Galway's Burke wins Hero of the Future award

Galway U-21 star Ian Burke has today been named as the Cadbury Hero of the Future for 2013.

Burke overcame stiff competition from fellow Hero of the Future nominees and Galway team-mates Fiontán Ó Curraoin and Shane Walsh, as well as Cork's Brian Hurley, Paul Cribbin from Kildare and Jack Brady of Cavan.

Burke was selected as the winner after a tough deliberation between the Cadbury Hero of the Future judges - former Kildare senior footballer Dermot Earley, former Dublin manager Paul Caffrey and TG4 journalist Micheal Ó Domhnaill.

The judges kept a close eye on the entire Cadbury All-Ireland U-21 Football Championship and the six nominees were named earlier this year.

Burke was part of the winning Galway team that beat Cork in a terrific battle in the final of the Championship, with the Corofin clubman himself scoring four points.

The Cadbury Hero of the Future initiative began in 2006 to recognise and highlight the skill and commitment of U-21 footballers.

Burke, who is currently in America for the summer playing for the Connemara Gaels in Boston, will receive a trophy and €1,000 upon his return home at the end of the summer. In addition, his club Corofin will also receive a grant of €1,000.

Commenting on the announcement, Shane Guest, Cadbury Ireland senior brand manager, said: "I would like to congratulate Ian on being named Cadbury Hero of the Future for 2013. This is a great honour for him and one he thoroughly deserves.

"Ian joins a list of well-established names in GAA, including Dublin's Ciarán Kilkenny and Cork's Colm O'Neill, and no doubt we will see plenty of him in the future."