Dan Bourke of Offaly during the 2024 oneills.com GAA Hurling All-Ireland U20 Championship final match between Offaly and Tipperary at UPMC Nowlan Park in Kilkenny. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile.
By John Harrington
Dan Bourke (Offaly)
Captain of the Offaly U20 team that won last year’s All-Ireland Final, Bourke also made an impressive step up to senior inter-county hurling that he should build on in 2025. Extremely industrious, skilful, a clinical finisher, and stronger than his frame might suggest, Bourke is a very complete forward who can play in a number of different positions. His long-term berth is likely to be at centre-forward where his vision and ability to bring others into the play can also shine.
Darragh McCarthy of Tipperary is tackled by Ter Guinan of Offaly during the 2024 oneills.com GAA Hurling All-Ireland U20 Championship final match between Offaly and Tipperary at UPMC Nowlan Park in Kilkenny. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile.
Darragh McCarthy (Tipperary)
Crowned Munster U20 Hurler of the Year for 2024, Darragh McCarthy is a very exciting inside forward blessed with pace, power, and finishing ability. The Toomevara clubman finished top-scorer in last year’s Tipperary club championship with a personal haul of 3-62, a very impressive feat for one so young. He trained with the Tipperary senior panel on a number of occasions last year year and is highly likely to make his senior debut in this year’s Allianz Hurling League.
Jack Leahy of Cork during the 2024 oneills.com Munster GAA U20 Hurling Championship semi-final match between Clare and Cork at Cusack Park in Ennis, Clare. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile.
Jack Leahy (Cork)
Leahy excelled for the Cork U20 hurlers last year and brought that form into the Cork Premier Senior Hurling Championship with eventual champions Imokilly. He scored 3-45 in five matches with 3-16 of that coming from play. Quick, skilful, and a lethal finisher, Leahy has all the tools you need to be a senior inter-county inside-forward. He’s also an outstanding free-taker thanks to his sublime ball-striking.
Aaron Niland of Galway during the Electric Ireland GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship Final match between Clare and Galway at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile.
Aaron Niland (Galway)
Aaron Niland still has two years left in the U20 grade but don’t be surprised if he also features for the Galway senior hurlers this year, such is his prodigious talent. He really caught the eye for the Galway U20 hurlers last year until injury ended his campaign and has been touted for many years as something special. Extremely quick, skilful, and a ruthless finisher from open play and placed balls, he’s the best underage talent that Galway hurling has produced in some time.
Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing of Dublin strike a penalty, which was saved, during the 2024 oneills.com Leinster GAA Hurling U20 Championship final match between Dublin and Offaly at Laois Hire O'Moore Park in Portlaoise, Laois. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile
Diarmaid Ó Dulaing (Dublin)
Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing was the main man on the Dublin U20 hurling team that reached last year’s Leinster Final and gave eventual All-Ireland champions Offaly a good run for their money. He also showed great promise whenever he was given an opportunity with the Dublin senior hurlers and should be able to build further on that in 2025 if given game-time. Fast, skilful, able to win his own ball, and clinical when a scoring opportunity comes his way, Ó Dúlaing has all the tools a forward needs to cut it at the highest level.
