EirGrid unveiled as the new sponsor of the GAA Football U21
ALL-Ireland Championship

‘EirGrid 21 U21s’ awards scheme announced as part of the new sponsorship

EirGrid were formally announced as the new title sponsor of the GAA Football U21 All- Ireland Championship at Croke Park this morning (February 16th). EirGrid, the state- owned company that manages and develops Ireland’s electricity grid, has committed their backing for three years. This competition will now be called the EirGrid GAA Football U21 All-Ireland Championship.

Players from all four provinces and EirGrid Ambassadors Bryan Cullen and Michael Meehan, who both have winners’ medals from this championship, joined Uachtarán Chumann Luthcleas Gael Liam Ó Néill and EirGrid Chief Executive Fintan Slye at GAA Headquarters for today’s announcement. Reigning All-Ireland champions Dublin were represented by Conor McHugh while Mayo’s Diarmuid O’Connor, Cork’s Brian O’Driscoll and Cavan’s Enda Flanagan were also in attendance.

As part of the new sponsorship EirGrid unveiled plans for a new awards scheme that will see the best players from the championship recognised. The ‘EirGrid 21 U21s Awards’ will be picked by a panel of experts including Bryan Cullen and Michael Meehan and will honour the twenty-one standout players over the course of the championship. A player of the month award will also be chosen for February, March and April.

Speaking at today’s launch GAA President Liam Ó Néill said;

We are very pleased to welcome EirGrid on board as the new sponsor of the GAA Football U21 Championship.
“This competition has risen in profile considerably in recent years and is a stand out landmark on our player pathway to the highest echelons of our game. “The new initiatives that EirGrid have planned for this competition will add another dimension to what is one of our few remaining straight knock out competitions at inter-county level.

“The ‘EirGrid 21 U21s’ awards scheme which is being announced today, will be a unique addition to the championship. It will recognise the best 21 players over the course of the championship regardless of their positions and these will be coveted awards. “I’d like to formally welcome EirGrid Chief Executive Fintan Slye and all his team to Croke Park. We thank EirGrid for their sponsorship and look forward to a long and successful partnership”.

EirGrid Chief Executive Fintan Slye added;

“Our business spans the length and breadth of the island of Ireland mirroring the reach of the GAA and so we feel this sponsorship makes perfect sense for EirGrid. EirGrid’s role is to manage and develop Ireland’s electricity grid, ensuring that young people like the participants of this championship, have a bright future both on and off the field. We’re proud to see our name attached to this championship and are committed to supporting the competition through many new initiatives in the three years to come. “On behalf of EirGrid I’d like to thank all the team at the GAA with whom we have worked over the last number of months to get this sponsorship in place and I’d also like to extend my best wishes to all teams involved in the 2015 EirGrid GAA Football U21 All-Ireland Championship.”

As well as the player of the month and ‘EirGrid 21 U21s’ awards scheme a number of other initiatives will take place over the course of the championship. EirGrid Ambassadors Bryan Cullen and Michael Meehan will also be promoting the championship in a series of blogs and radio interviews in the local media.