Queen’s University announce the inaugural Future Stars All Star team
Team announcement for the 2015 Danske Bank Queen’s University Future Stars
Future Stars award winners Jack Lenehan(St Ronan’s, Lurgan) and Fintan Canavan (St Patrick’s Downpatrick) get some extra work in with Queen’s GAA star Martin Clarke during the announcement of the Danske Bank Queen’s University Future Stars Awards Scheme at Queen’s Sport.
Queen’s University have named the team selected to receive the Future Stars awards for 2015. These awards recognise players competing for their schools within the Ulster Colleges’ Year twelve competitions from “A” to “D” grades and were selected after a trial process across three days at “The Dub”.
All Star Selectors James McCartan (Down), Anthony McGrath (Donegal) and Paddy McKeever (Armagh) faced a stiff challenge given the quality of the players on view. McCartan commented “As a selection team we had an arduous task to separate players in close calls across almost every position. If the quality and competitiveness of the football we had the pleasure of watching is an indicator of the next wave of footballers coming through in Ulster then we can look forward to some exciting Ulster Schools competitions over the next couple of years”.
Not surprisingly, the final selection was dominated by the Rannafast Cup winners Patrician High School Carrickmacross and Rafferty Cup winners St Ciaran’s, Ballygawley, with the two trophy holders collecting four and three all stars respectively.
Conor Quinn becomes the second Burren man honoured in the full back line within Ulster Colleges All Stars this week after club mate Patrick Murdock received MacRory award at number three. Centre forward Fintan Canavan comes from sporting stock as his uncle John McNally won Ireland’s first Olympic Medal – a silver for Boxing at the 1952 games in Helsinki. Darragh Canavan is another award recipient with pedigree. The Errigal Ciaran club man is a son of the great Peter.
Anthony McGrath, who is Domestic Recruitment Manager for Queen’s further endorsed the new scheme “Queen’s University is focused on developing and rewarding excellence as demonstrated by the “Future Stars”. We hope that these awards will provide recognition for the ambition and determination shown by these young athletes. We wish them well on their continued journey of learning and hard work”.
Sean McGourty on behalf of the Ulster Colleges Committee enthused that “This scheme, initiated by the Queen’s University GAA Academy is a wonderful opportunity to recognise some of the rising stars in our games. We are delighted once again to work with Queen’s to raise the profile of our players and competitions.”
The award winners will be honoured with a dinner at Queen’s University’s “Great Hall” on Monday 21st December and will receive unique Under Armour Queen’s GAA playing kits.
The team selected for the 2015 Danske Bank Queen’s University Future Stars is as follows:
- Gary O’Rourke – St Patrick’s, Cavan
- Peter Fegan – St Colman’s, Newry
- Conor Quinn – St Ciaran’s, Ballygawley
- Conor Magennis – St Paul’s, Bessbrook
- Cormac Timoney – St Patrick’s, Cavan
- James Crawfrod – St Mary’s, Magherafelt
- Kieran Slavin – Patrician HS, Carrickmacross
- Liam óg Murray – Patrician HS, Carrickmacross
- Daniel Millar – St Ciaran’s, Ballygawley
- Jack Lenehan – St Ronan’s, Lurgan
- Fintan Canavan – St Patrick’s Downpatrick
- Adam Connolly – St Mary’s, Magherafelt
- Sean Burns – Patrician HS, Carrickmacross
- Andrew Woods – Patrician HS, Carrickmacross
- Darragh Canavan – St Ciaran’s, Ballygawley
