EirGrid, the state-owned company charged with delivering a cleaner energy future for Ireland through management of Ireland’s electricity grid, has officially launched the 2021 EirGrid GAA Football U20 All-Ireland Championship. 2012 All Ireland winner and Donegal coach Leo McLoone and five-time All-Ireland winner and Kerry U20 manager Declan O’Sullivan, were both in attendance at the launch.

2021 marks the seventh year of EirGrid’s sponsorship of the U20 Football Championship and where the country’s most promising young footballers compete across all four provinces from July through to the All-Ireland Finals in August.

Speaking at the event,** Michael Mahon, Chief Infrastructure Officer, said; “At EirGrid, we are extremely proud of our enduring support of the GAA. This is the seventh year of our partnership with the GAA as sponsors of the competition which gives the next generation of talented and ambitious athletes a platform to shine, develop and grow into leaders both on and off the field.

GAA management teams around the country are responsible for the management and development of the current and future inter-county stars, a similar set of skills and expertise required in our business as we ensure the current and future electrical needs of our country. We will be drawing on these similarities to bring the partnership to life through the season and years.”

Speaking on behalf of the GAA, Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael, Larry McCarthy commented: “The EirGrid GAA Football U20 Championship was a hugely exciting competition last year, with the gripping Galway-Dublin final proving to be one of the games of the season and with excellent talent on show.

We are looking forward to the 2021 championship offering similar levels of drama and excitement in the coming weeks. We are delighted to have EirGrid as a partner in the promotion of this great competition as they work towards an exciting finale in August.”

The EirGrid Leinster U20 Football Championship commences on Thursday 1st of July with four exciting fixtures which sees Westmeath take on Kildare, Longford play Louth, Laois face Wicklow and Wexford taking on Carlow, all in the hope for a place in the provincial quarter finals which take place the following week.

In Ulster the provincial Championship throws in on Friday July 2nd with a preliminary fixture between Donegal and Armagh at Ballybofey. The quarter finals start on Friday the 9th of July with a bumper day of action featuring Cavan vs Down, Fermanagh vs Antrim, Derry vs Monaghan and Tyrone playing the winner of Donegal/Armagh.

The EirGrid Connacht U20 Championship kicks off on the 6th/7th of July at the quarter final stage, with Roscommon taking on Leitrim at the Connacht Centre of Excellence. The following week in the first of the exciting semi-finals sees defending All Ireland Champions Galway taking on fierce rivals Mayo on Tuesday the 13th of July. The following day Sligo will play the winners of Roscommon/Leitrim in the second semi-final.

The Munster competition commences on 8th July with two cracking fixtures between Tipperary vs Limerick and Waterford vs Clare.