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Let us introduce you: here’s 6 young hurlers who’ll make the breakthrough this year

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25/02/12 1,594 Views 2 Comments

IT’S THAT TIME of year again when a young sports fans mind turns to a long season of hurling.

And though, old friends are best, here’s six new faces who might take the league and championship by storm this year.

Let us introduce you: here’s 6 young hurlers who’ll make the breakthrough this year
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  • Shane Stapleton (Dublin)

    Won the Leinster Under-21 title with Dublin in 2010 but was ruled out for the season not long after with a cruciate ligament injury, having been the county's top scorer up to that point - including 0-6 against champions Kilkenny. "It wasn't just the standard cruciate injury," he said in December. "Other things went wrong as well. It was setback after setback. It was so frustrating to be out for so long. It was good to get back, but even then the medics were saying I couldn't rush it." After getting onto Anthony Daly's senior panel, Stapleton impressed for the Dubs Stars over the holiday season and has brought that form into the Walsh Cup where he was impressive in defeat to Laois. A good league campaign could see him push for a run come summertime.

  • Adrian Ryan (Tipperary)

    Ryan was drafted into the Tipperary panel over the winter and has impressed in the pre-season games thus far at half-forward. The Templederry man's three points in the Waterford Crystal Cup semi-final win over Cork laid down a marker to his fellow panellists. Starred for Tipp under-21s last year and with the likes of Lar Corbett retiring and Patrick 'Bonner' Maher currently injured, he may get chances to shine in the league.

  • Conor Lehane (Cork)

    Lehane is seen as the next big thing in Cork hurling and former boss Denis Walsh gave the then Leaving Cert student a taste of senior action last year, starting with the Waterford Crystal Cup where the youngster hit 0-7 from play in defeat against Na Deise. Lehane was also excellent in the epic U-21 Munster hurling final against Limerick and came up with 0-3 from full-forward that day, after being named man of the match from centre-forward in the semi-final against Tipperary. Having missed the league with a knee injury, he made his senior championship in July 2011 and was one of the few to impress as Cork were trounced by Galway in the qualifiers.

  • Conor McCann (Antrim)

    McCann was a leading light on the U-21 team that was beaten heavily by Dublin in last year's All-Ireland semi-final and he had previously shown his class for the senior side when scoring a goal against Wexford in the Leinster championship. Not to mention the 0-4 he scored on his championship debut in Laois and the 2-1 he then put away against Westmeath in the qualifiers. Along with Neil McManus and Liam Watson, McCann could be a key man if the Saffrons are to make progress under Jerry Wallace this season.

  • Conor McGrath (Clare)

    McGrath announced himself to the wider hurling public when he scored 1-6 on his championship debut against All-Ireland champions Tipperary as Clare went six points up in the 2011 Munster semi-final. It forced Declan Ryan to make a couple of changes in his back-line and while Galway trounced the Banner in their only other championship outing, he came up with another five points. As he has continued to show with Cratloe and UL, he is one of the best young attackers in the game.

  • Shane Dowling (Limerick)

    Dowling has already shown for the Limerick U-21s and Na Piarsaigh that he is an exceptional talent. No more so than in the Munster club semi-final against Ballygunnar when - seven points down - his 2-3 in five minutes stole the game for the Limerick side. A deadly free-taker with an obvious eye for goal, he could quickly become a key man for a Treaty side that has welcomed very young blood in the last year with Declan Hannon and Kevin Downes. "He definitely has the size and the temperament," said club teammate David Breen. "Now underage is different to playing senior but he has a good head on his shoulders. He is an unbelievable free-taker, fantastic. I think that will stand to him. He is going to have to produce it in training and the league but there is no doubt he is good enough, definitely."
  • Won the Leinster Under-21 title with Dublin in 2010 but was ruled out for the season not long after with a cruciate ligament injury, having been the county's top scorer up to that point - including 0-6 against champions Kilkenny.
  • Ryan was drafted into the Tipperary panel over the winter and has impressed in the pre-season games thus far at half-forward. The Templederry man's three points in the Waterford Crystal Cup semi-final win over Cork laid down a marker to his fellow panellists. Starred for Tipp under-21s last year and with the likes of Lar Corbett retiring and Patrick 'Bonner' Maher currently injured, he may get chances to shine in the league.
  • Lehane is seen as the next big thing in Cork hurling and former boss Denis Walsh gave the then Leaving Cert student a taste of senior action last year, starting with the Waterford Crystal Cup where the youngster hit 0-7 from play in defeat against Na Deise. Lehane was also excellent in the epic U-21 Munster hurling final against Limerick and came up with 0-3 from full-forward that day, after being named man of the match from centre-forward in the semi-final against Tipperary. Having missed the league with a knee injury, he made his senior championship in July 2011 and was one of the few to impress as Cork were trounced by Galway in the qualifiers.
  • McCann was a leading light on the U-21 team that was beaten heavily by Dublin in last year's All-Ireland semi-final and he had previously shown his class for the senior side when scoring a goal against Wexford in the Leinster championship. Not to mention the 0-4 he scored on his championship debut in Laois and the 2-1 he then put away against Westmeath in the qualifiers. Along with Neil McManus and Liam Watson, McCann could be a key man if the Saffrons are to make progress under Jerry Wallace this season.
  • McGrath announced himself to the wider hurling public when he scored 1-6 on his championship debut against All-Ireland champions Tipperary as Clare went six points up in the 2011 Munster semi-final. It forced Declan Ryan to make a couple of changes in his back-line and while Galway trounced the Banner in their only other championship outing, he came up with another five points. As he has continued to show with Cratloe and UL, he is one of the best young attackers in the game.
  • Dowling has already shown for the Limerick U-21s and Na Piarsaigh that he is an exceptional talent. No more so than in the Munster club semi-final against Ballygunnar when - seven points down - his 2-3 in five minutes stole the game for the Limerick side. A deadly free-taker with an obvious eye for goal, he could quickly become a key man for a Treaty side that has welcomed very young blood in the last year with Declan Hannon and Kevin Downes.

About the author:

Shane Stapleton
@shanesaint

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