A look at 21 hot prospects in 2021
Brendan Lawrence takes a look at 21 sports people who look set to make a big impact in 2021
1. JOSEPH BYRNE
Baltinglass golfing talent Joseph Byrne will be hoping that 2021 will one of those memorable years where he gets things done that just wouldn’t go his way in 2020.
That’s not to say the talented 18-year-old had a poor 2020, not in the slightest, but wins just wouldn’t come.
He enjoyed six top-10 finishes and two top-fives, set a new course record in Baltinglass (66) and a joint course record in Rosapenna (66), and defeated Mark Power in the Senior Cup.
Predicting his 2021 is incredibly difficult at this early stage but a conservative glance forward would suggest that he will compete in the West of Ireland, Irish Close and Irish Amateur championships over the course of the summer providing that the Covid-19 pandemic doesn’t throw a major spanner in the works for the young golfer.
However, in September, a whole new chapter will begin for Joseph as he sets off on a four-year golf scholarship to Kennesaw State University in Georgia in the US.
Prior to that adventure beginning he hopes to win and continue improving in the game he so dearly loves.
2. MAX O’REILLY
Enniskerry’s Max O’Reilly has kicked off his 2021 in a very promising fashion with a starting place on the Leinster Senior team to face Connacht in the Pro14 and no doubt he and all Wicklow sports fans will be hoping to see him build on that and cement his place on the panel over the coming months.
Granted, the result didn’t go the way of Leo Cullen’s charges but a raft of changes and a fully fired up Connacht didn’t help.
Max also enjoyed the full 80 minutes in the recent Leinster A v Ulster A battle at Kingspan Park last week and although defeat was the final result there as well, the former St Gerard’s student can look forward to much better days as his career develops.
3. MAX HART
After an impressive debut season in 2020, where he won the final round and ended the year third in the Touring Car Trophy, Max Hart will return to the grid in 2021 driving one of Maximum Motorsport’s recently acquired Hyundai i30N TCRs.
The 19-year-old from Balinglass is aiming to use the experience gained last season when he lines up for the first round at Anglesey in April:
‘Having previously driven single-seaters, I was impressed with how a TCR car felt as soon as I drove one for the first time last year. I really enjoyed last season, so I’m very pleased to sign up for 2021 especially as I’ll be driving a Hyundai i30N, a car that has proved extremely competitive all over the world.
‘I’m intending to put my experience in 2020 to good use and will be spending as much time as I can on a SIM over the coming months to make sure I’m ready for the start of the season. I feel more confident this time around, so my focus is firmly on challenging for this year’s title. And with all the changes going on, it looks like I’m joining TCR UK at an exciting time. I can’t wait to get started,’ he said.
4. ST PAT’S LADIES
For most of us 2020 will be a year that we won’t miss too much and the same can probably be said for the St Patrick’s Senior ladies footballers who failed to reach the heights they scaled in 2019 when they were defeated by Tinahely in the county final in Blessington. But wait! Former Wicklow ladies boss Mick O’Rourke has taken over the management of this very capable side and they are most certainly deserving of their place in the ‘Watch this Space’ section for 2021.
Internal difficulties left the team shorn of the services of the McGettigan sisters and also left the team lacking cohesion but sources say that while not all problems have been solved in the Wicklow town club, the arrival of O’Rourke and his management team may well freshen things up and get them back at the business end of the championship.
A Senior ‘B’ title in 2020 is nothing to be sneered at but the St Patrick’s players will know that there is so much more in them if they can find a healthy place.
It’s easy to forget that this team challenged Tinahely hard in Aughrim a few years back when victory looked a real possibility for much of the game and then put up a brave showing in the decider against the Wicklow club titans in 2019, so they are not far away whatsoever.
Add in the quality showings of Lucy Dunne and Clodagh Fox for the county team in their All-Ireland Junior championship campaign and a thriving underage scene and 2021 could be the year for a seismic shock.
5. MATTHEW GING
All football supporters in Wicklow will be watching the progress of Tinahely’s Matthew Ging with interest in 2021. The talented attacker has promised so much for the last number of seasons and has delivered in spades at underage grades for club and county.
A shining light for Kevin O’Brien’s Wicklow Minor football team during their memorable adventures through the Leinster championships of 2018 and 2019, Ging looks set to feature strongly for Davy Burke’s Senior side in 2021and, hopefully, for many years to come.
Blessed with sublime skills, a lethal left boot and superb accuracy from play and placed balls, the Tinahely man is always a joy to watch when on song and well supplied by the soldiers further out the field.
The 2020 county final was forgettable for him given the class job performed by Baltinglass defender John Murray but it’s worth remembering that Ging registered 2-6 (two frees) between the quarter-final and semi-final against St Patrick’s (1-4) and Avondale (1-2) in the lead up to the big day where Alan Costello’s side were outgunned by ‘Gino’ Heaslip’s charges in Aughrim.
6. EOIN DOYLE
It’s fair to say there’s a hint of a genius in the young Rathnew attacker who will make is adult debut in 2021 providing sport is allowed to some extent over the next 12 months.
Cut from the precious cloth of the traditional full-forward, Doyle has the immense ability to torment defences at any level. He can kick scores off both feet and from any angle and has the ability to turn games on their heads in a matter of seconds.
Doyle is another product of Kevin O’Brien’s Minor team and the underage set-up in Rathnew and the Wicklow development squads and he has benefited from Paddy Dalton’s first year in charge of the Garden County side that enjoyed a big win over Longford before losing out to Offaly in Offaly.
Adapting to adult football will be an adventure Eoin Doyle will relish at both club and county, but one thing is for sure, both Rathnew and Wicklow need attackers of his quality if they are to take things to new levels in the coming years.
7. PODGE O’TOOLE
Kiltegan’s Podge O’Toole en
joyed a relatively successful season on the GAA fields. Together with his Wicklow colleagues he helped lift the Senior side out of Division 4 for the first time since 2012 and he also threw the shoulder to the wheel as Wicklow toppled Wexford in the Leinster championship eight days after beating them in that all-important league game in Chadwick’s Wexford Park.
On the club scene the dual player lit up the championships in both hurling and football, driving the hurlers to a very productive year that saw them draw with Carnew and lose out to Pat’s when a semi-final berth was in their own control.
In the football he played a key role in the superb victory over Tinahely under lights in Baltinglass, registering three points on an uplifting night for Keith Byrne’s charges. He also added three points to the total tally of 2-17 when they toppled Éire Óg Greystones after extra-time.
O’Toole also helped IT Carlow reach the Sigerson Cup final in January of last year where they were defeated by DCU Dóchas Éireann.
Expect this man to have a major 2021 for both club and county given his obvious ability and undeniable appetite for work.
8. TOMMY COLLINS
Already being singled out for his bravery and leadership qualities, Carnew’s Tommy Collins is a really bright spark in the Wicklow hurling scene.
It’s undeniable that Carnew are enduring something of a championship famine at adult level but they are reaching the finals and they are developing a raft of young players such as Collins so the forecast for the future is one of hope and potential rather than dread and despair.
Owen Doyle selected Collins as the captain of the Wicklow Minor hurling team in 2020 and although their one game was the defeat to Meath in Aughrim, he nevertheless displayed all the qualities one would expect from a leader on the field.
The Carnew Minors contested the Minor ‘B final and were defeated by Michael Dwyers, with North Wicklow Gaels and Bray Emmets contesting the flagship ‘A’ decider. Again, Tommy Collins was to the fore in that Minor ‘B’ final, always trying to drive on his players and never relenting under all sorts of pressure. His arrival onto the adult scene in 2021 is an exciting development and one that hurling fans will look forward to seeing unfold if and when the championship gets underway.
9. EOIN BYRNE
A leading light in the underage hurling world of Wicklow GAA, Eoin Byrne’s step up to adult level promises to be a significant boost for Kiltegan over the next number of years.
Man of the match in the Wicklow Minor final of 2019, Byrne is a wizard when he is on song and teak tough at the same time.
A Minor ‘B’ winner’s medal in 2020 after victory over Carnew Emmets was a pleasant way to bring the curtain down on his underage career and all hurling supporters at club and county level look forward to watching his talents grow and prosper over the coming years.
10. BRYAN KEARNEY
A year of injury has come to an end and great news for Wicklow and Kiltegan hurling supporters is that defender Bryan Kearney is back in training for Eamonn Scallan’s county squad having been sorely missed over the course of a difficult Christy Ring Cup campaign.
Kearney picked up the injury during the first lockdown having soldiered at full-back for the county during the very trying and testing NHL Division 2A campaign and his loss was significant for both Wicklow and Kiltegan for the subsequent club championship campaign.
Without a shadow of a doubt, Kearney’s return is a major boost for Scallan’s charges as they set out on a difficult road in league and championship and he may well have a major season in the club and county jersey providing we get back playing some sort of sport as the year goes on.
11. DAVY MALONEY
One of the strengths within the Bray Emmets hurling set-up is that there are always players to step up and step in when required. Take Ciaran McKay for example, thrust into the fierce heat of battle in a county final and not found wanting in the slightest.
And then there’s Davy Maloney. A talented young hurler, brave in the extreme, always willing and always able. He played a major role in Paul Carley’s side’s tilt at the title in 2020, coming up against tough opponents and never shirking and always impressing.
Expect this man to have a massive 2021 as he matures that bit more and learns to express himself in the dynamic way he can.
12. LENA TICE
Two goals for Lena in the Ireland jersey in the final game of a fivegame friendly battle with Spain over the last fortnight suggests a big season ahead for the Glenealy native.
Ahead of the national team are the European Championships and the Olympic Games providing Covid-19 doesn’t throw a massive spanner in the works.
Hopefully, Lena will be able to shine bright on the club scene as well in 2021.
13. LIAM SCALES
The Barndarrig man had a superb 2020 with Shamrock Rovers and all things being equal he will return to action in 2021 with his sights firmly set on more of the same if not even better than before.
Scales is emerging as a top defender in the national game.
14. KATIE TAYLOR
A professional record of 17-0 and a future of huge possibilities suggests that Bray boxer Katie Taylor is going to have an unforgettable 2021.
Taylor enjoyed a resounding victory over Miriam Gutierrez in London in November and is sure to attract massive fights as the best in the world look to stop her rampage through the sport and also cash in on her meteoric rise in popularity.
Her manager Eddie Hearn said that there isn’t anyone she wouldn’t fight.
‘We’ve tried for the (Amanda) Serrano fight, we love the winner of (Cecilia) Brækhus against (Jessica) McCaskill, that’s the undisputed welterweight championship.
‘You’ve got Chantelle Cameron I think will be undisputed soon at 140, that’s a big fight in 2021 as well.
‘Natasha Jonas is up there; Terri Harper could come up from 130 when she’s undisputed.
‘There is just so many challenges and the great news is she wouldn’t duck one of them.
‘You couldn’t suggest a fight that she would say ‘no’ to. But she does want to push the boundaries.
“(Cris) Cyborg is a great fight, we know it’s a crossover fight with MMA, but honestly there are so many different options.
‘The great thing with Katie and with women’s boxing is that ‘no’ is not really an answer that the champions give,’ he added.
The world is most definitely Katie’s oyster and 2021 could be the year where she reigns supreme.
15. JOSH VAN DER FLIER
A key member of Leo Cullen’s Leinster squad, the former Wicklow Rugby Club juvenile player is becoming a very important and instantly recognisable weapon in the provincial armoury.
There’s no doubting the flanker’s ability and his main aim for 2021 will be to cement his place in the Leinster and Ireland starting 15 and shine bright in the champions Cup and Six Nations providing both events go ahead.
16. ADAM SHORT
Since winning his first race onboard Comragh in Ayr in 2015, Newtown jockey Adam Short has been steadily improving all the time and is now very busy on the circuit.
Adam steered Delvino home win the Happy Christmas From Naas Mares Maiden Hurdle at Naas Racecourse in Kildare in December.
17. CIARÁN GETHINGS
Coolboy’s Ciaran Gethings is another jockey to watch out for in 2021.
Currently based in England, the talented rider landed two second-place finishes in Market Rasen on January 16 or trainer Stuarft Edmunds and came home first onboard Queenofhearts in the ‘Listen to Paul Nicholls on Betting.Betfair Handicap Hurdle Race (Class 3) in Haydock on December 19.
18. SIMON POWER
On Monday, it was announced that 22-year-old Simon Power had sealed a permanent move to EFL League Two club Harrogate. It came as welcome news for the Greystones youngster, who had spent the previous five months onloan at King’s Lynn in the National League, from Norwich City.
The latest was his second stint at the Norfolk-based outfit. In total, he made 17 appearances for the club, scoring four times. In his first spell, which ended prematurely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, he made six appearances, scoring two goals; both of which came against Gateshead in a 2-1 win in March that proved crucial as King’s Lynn gained promotion to the National League.
His time at King’s Lynn was one of several loan moves during a sporadic tenure at Norwich. After joining the Canaries in 2018, his opportunities in the first-team were fleeting. To gain game-time, he moved to Dordrecht in Holland, where he scored once in 10 games, and Ross County in Scotland.
The midfielder is an underage international, having represented Ireland up to under-21s. If he makes the impact at Harrogate of which his is capable, getting back into the national fold isn’t out of the question.
19. DAIRE O’CONNOR
After leaving Cork City at the end of 2020, Arklow-native Daire O’Connor wasted absolutely no time in landing on his feet. He made the move north to join Cliftonville in the NIFL Premiership in October, where he quickly made a positive impact.
The 23-year-old was a positive figure among the City supporters during his time at Turner’s Cross before his release, where he was welcomed as a homegrown prospect due to his family being from Cork originally.
He made his debut for Cliftonville on October 31, coming off the bench in a 3-0 win over Carrick. Since then, he has made 11 appearances, scoring three goals, including an impressive brace against Portadown on November 28. What makes his contribution even more exciting is the fact that he has started just once. That aforementioned brace was scored in the final five minutes in his most prolific substitute cameo.
All told, it has made for an efficient start to his career at Cliftonville. While he has been made to be patient in his wait for a run in the starting XI, if his current form continues, 2021 promises to be the year in which he makes a significant impact on the first-team.
20. TOM MURPHY
Last season was a difficult one for Tom Murphy and his Wexford FC colleagues. In a truncated Airtricity League First Division campaign, Wexford finished bottom, with 12 points and a record of three wins, three draws, and 12 defeats. They propped up the table with the same amount of points as Athlone Town and three behind Shamrock Rovers II.
Despite this, however, the Aughrim-native goalkeeper can look back on his year with pride. The 20-year-old, who was playing in his first season in senior football, had joined the club from UCD at the start of the year, having previously enjoyed time in the Everton academy. Such was the extent to which he impressed in 2020 that he was awarded Wexford’s Player of the Year, before being quickly signed up for another season.
Now that he has his first senior campaign under his belt. The young shot-stopper, and his teammates, will be looking to take the next step by rising up the league table. Whatever way you view it, finishing bottom will have been frustrating. A good goalkeeper is the key for any team, and if Murphy continues to develop at pace, 2021 will be a big year for all involved.
21. EMMA O’BRIEN
Now 21 and she’s aiming to make her mark in the coming year as an U23 athlete. In 2018 she finished an outstanding 8th at the European Junior Cross-Country Championships in Tilburg but was prevented from building on that in the following year, through injury. 2020 wasn’t the year for comebacks with competition strictly curtailed. But 2021 is a new chapter and her sights are firmly set on the European U23 Championships in Gavle, Sweden.
She’s in training from home in Wicklow town away from her DCU training groups due to Covid-19 restrictions but is thriving on the challenge.
Training six days a week and working hard on strength and mobility she’s determined to stay healthy.
It’s a difficult year for planning but as Indoor track is unlikely, she’s planning towards an early start to the outdoor season to achieve qualifying standards. On the cards also are a shot at the World University Games which are in China in August.