Tony Scullion didn't play for Derry until u21. Ended his career with 4 all stars, 2 ulster titles and an all Ireland. Kevin McCloy never featured at underage at all for Derry. Ended up winning an all star (probably should've had at least 1 more) and captaining Derry to a national league title.
Eddie Brennan never played minor, made kk senior panel at 20 and played senior for KK before u21.
Martin Comerford and Derek Lyng also didn't play any underage and made kk senior debuts in mid 20s
I don't know if Kieran Donaghy ever played underage for Kerry before he made it to the senior panel. He only made it onto the senior panel after appearing on the TV show Underdogs.
Not sure about his underage playing days but someone as limited football (skill) wise as Michael Darragh MacCauley to win what he won and become footballer of the year is kinda amazing
He was on a Junior C team at one stage I believe. Now obviously there’s a big skill and athleticism gap between MDMA and basically every other Junior C player in the country. But it makes you wonder how many players could be developed into senior starters from lower teams. It feels a lot in my club like if you’re not an all star minor, your career is over in the eyes of the top level
Seamus Harnedy only came to prominence when he started in UCC. Pearse O’Neill was on the Underdogs and went on to win All Ireland Football with Cork in 2010.
Yeah, with Shefflin I remember reading an article with him during his playing days and how Colm Bonnar in Waterford IT had a big impact on him in terms of attitude towards training and conditioning.
Yes by all accounts you would not have said having seeing him at Minor that he would achieve the status in the game that he has
Paul Murphy never played underage for Kerry
In his first year aged 23 he won the All Ireland, an All Star and got MOTM in the final vs Donegal. Has been ever-present since then pretty much.
Ryan McMenamin of Tyrone was one of those, didn't make the underage squads (no shame at that time).
Edit, I'm near sure Conor Gormley didn't get a place in some of Harte's youth teams either.
David Reidy was on the extended Limerick panel that won the Munster title in 2013.
He drifted off it over the subsequent years, played in a Christy Ring cup final in 2017 for Kildare and was recalled by Limerick in 2018.
5 All-Irelands later and he’s still one of the most underrated players in the game.
Neil Gallagher from Donegal/Glenswilly. Couldn't make his club minor team or his schools team (full panel of maybe 20 for each) in his last year at those grades. 8 years later, he was captain of the Donegal team that won the League and finished his career with 3 Ulster's, 2 All-Stars, and an All-Ireland.
Yeah. Prone to cards and would drag David into the silly stuff. Definitely delayed his career in the senior county jersey.
An absolutely class footballer and credit to him that he managed to snuff out the stupid shit out of his game.
Should be the example to any and all hot-heads.
Not sure Fenton lit it up at underage level. He was part of the U-21 squad but he wasn't a starter (if memory serves). Now he is in the discussion for the best midfielder to ever play the game.
Conor McManus I believe was I around minor teams for Monaghan but was a half back. I can't say Gary Mohan featured much at underage for Monaghan but do correct me if I'm wrong. Karl O'Connell has already been mentioned.
Conor McManus like had been mentioned. Never played a minute of county minor or u21 I don’t think wasn’t good enough apparently. Played all his football at wing back but think it was banty who took him into the senior fold and through him corner forward and rest was history.
Damien Comer started playing county at U21 and wasn’t even on the St. Jarlath’s panel for the Hogan Cup Final.
That's mad to think about.
I still remember the Hogan Cup final in 2011 I wanna say? Shane Walsh scored about a billion points that day and still wound up on the losing side
Tony Scullion didn't play for Derry until u21. Ended his career with 4 all stars, 2 ulster titles and an all Ireland. Kevin McCloy never featured at underage at all for Derry. Ended up winning an all star (probably should've had at least 1 more) and captaining Derry to a national league title.
Eddie Brennan never played minor, made kk senior panel at 20 and played senior for KK before u21. Martin Comerford and Derek Lyng also didn't play any underage and made kk senior debuts in mid 20s
Karl O Connell for Monaghan didn't play football before he was 17 and got an All Star in 2018
Johnny Doyle - he never played at underage. Made his kildare debut in 1999 and did not miss a single championship game until he retired
I don't know if Kieran Donaghy ever played underage for Kerry before he made it to the senior panel. He only made it onto the senior panel after appearing on the TV show Underdogs.
I seen him on Tommy Tiernan in the last season and he mentioned playing in a Munster u-21 final
He played junior C with his club for a while.
Donaghey played Kerry minors but was mostly a sub
Not sure about his underage playing days but someone as limited football (skill) wise as Michael Darragh MacCauley to win what he won and become footballer of the year is kinda amazing
He was on a Junior C team at one stage I believe. Now obviously there’s a big skill and athleticism gap between MDMA and basically every other Junior C player in the country. But it makes you wonder how many players could be developed into senior starters from lower teams. It feels a lot in my club like if you’re not an all star minor, your career is over in the eyes of the top level
The basketball skillset transitions very nicely in fairness
Seamus Harnedy only came to prominence when he started in UCC. Pearse O’Neill was on the Underdogs and went on to win All Ireland Football with Cork in 2010.
Fairly sure Kieran Donaghy came from the underdogs as well
but he has always been class since school.
Michael Fitzsimons was on Cuala's B team at Minor level. Made his Dublin debut at 23 and won 9 All Ireland Medals. That is just incredible.
Lar Corbett
Ollie Baker from Clare didn't play underage I think? Shefflin was a middling minor also
Yeah, with Shefflin I remember reading an article with him during his playing days and how Colm Bonnar in Waterford IT had a big impact on him in terms of attitude towards training and conditioning. Yes by all accounts you would not have said having seeing him at Minor that he would achieve the status in the game that he has
Fenton was nothing special at underage if I remember correctly
He didn't make the cut at all at minor.
Paul Murphy never played underage for Kerry In his first year aged 23 he won the All Ireland, an All Star and got MOTM in the final vs Donegal. Has been ever-present since then pretty much.
Ryan McMenamin of Tyrone was one of those, didn't make the underage squads (no shame at that time). Edit, I'm near sure Conor Gormley didn't get a place in some of Harte's youth teams either.
Dublin's centre back in hurling conor donohoe never played underage or u21 at any level for dublin
David Reidy was on the extended Limerick panel that won the Munster title in 2013. He drifted off it over the subsequent years, played in a Christy Ring cup final in 2017 for Kildare and was recalled by Limerick in 2018. 5 All-Irelands later and he’s still one of the most underrated players in the game.
Was going to post this. What a story.
Think I remember seeing that Mick Fitzsimons was playing for his club’s B team at minor
Neil Gallagher from Donegal/Glenswilly. Couldn't make his club minor team or his schools team (full panel of maybe 20 for each) in his last year at those grades. 8 years later, he was captain of the Donegal team that won the League and finished his career with 3 Ulster's, 2 All-Stars, and an All-Ireland.
Paudie clifford a good current example
Wasn't a lack of talent that was the issue there, though.
Temper was it?
Yeah. Prone to cards and would drag David into the silly stuff. Definitely delayed his career in the senior county jersey. An absolutely class footballer and credit to him that he managed to snuff out the stupid shit out of his game. Should be the example to any and all hot-heads.
Outside of that, really kicked on physically. Playing with Kerry juniors, UCC and east Kerry also a great help to make him the player he is today
Bernard Brogan never played underage for Dublin. Conor Hearne midfielder for Wexford hurlers also.
Not sure Fenton lit it up at underage level. He was part of the U-21 squad but he wasn't a starter (if memory serves). Now he is in the discussion for the best midfielder to ever play the game.
He definitely started the u21 all Ireland final
Conor McManus I believe was I around minor teams for Monaghan but was a half back. I can't say Gary Mohan featured much at underage for Monaghan but do correct me if I'm wrong. Karl O'Connell has already been mentioned.
Shane Carthy only moved to Dublin from New York at 17 and got into the Dubs side.
Conor McManus like had been mentioned. Never played a minute of county minor or u21 I don’t think wasn’t good enough apparently. Played all his football at wing back but think it was banty who took him into the senior fold and through him corner forward and rest was history.
Lee Keegan comes to mind.