One of the most exciting things to do every year as a GAA fan is to keep an eye out for any young prospects who might burst onto the scene in 2024. The GAA Allianz Football Leagues return this weekend, and there'll be plenty of brilliant young players ready to burst onto the scene.
Here at Balls.ie, we have highlighted 12 footballers who are waiting in the wings, and look primed and ready to make their mark on inter-county football in 2024.
Ruairí Canavan (Tyrone)
24 June 2023; Brothers Ruairi, left, and Darragh Canavan of Tyrone make their way onto the pitch before the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Preliminary Quarter Final match between Donegal and Tyrone at MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey, Donegal. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Without doubt one of the most talented players ever seen at the U20 grade, Ruairí Canavan, the son of the great Peter Canavan, could tear it up for Tyrone in the next decade. Alongside his brother Darragh, they could be a frightening duo.
He was named the U20 Player of the Year in 2022, and everyone in the country was enthralled to see how he would get on in his first year at Senior Level in 2023. Tyrone flattered to deceive in 2023, getting squashed by Kerry at the quarter final stage, but it was an important year for Ruairí nevertheless. He got his feet under the table, and put in some good performances.
We reckon that with a full league under his belt, and consistent gametime alongside Darragh, Ruairí could become one of the best forwards in Ireland and be a vital player for Tyrone in 2024 and beyond.
Theo Clancy (Dublin)
18 April 2023; Theo Clancy of Dublin during the Eirgrid Leinster GAA Football U20 Championship Semi-Final match between Meath and Dublin at Páirc Tailteann in Navan, Meath. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Theo Clancy looks born to play fullback for Dublin. A star through the ranks in Dublin’s underage teams, Theo announced himself to the country with his performances for Kilmacud Crokes. He looked composed, disciplined and completely at home at fullback in a Kilmacud side that won the All-Ireland Club Title in 2022/2023, and reached the All Ireland Semi Final in 2023/2024.
Dublin fans are pleading for Theo to be given game time in the league in 2024. With retirements like Johnny Cooper, and absentees like David Byrne, as well as looming retirements for other key defenders, Dessie Farrell would be wise to give Clancy some gametime at fullback for the Dubs in 2024.
Tomó Culhane (Galway)
2 April 2023; Tomo Culhane of Galway dejected during the Allianz Football League Division 1 Final match between Galway and Mayo at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
The star man in Galway’s U20 All-Ireland victory in 2020 as he shot 1-6 in the final to defeat Dublin, Culhane has been made to wait for significant gametime in the Galway senior panel. Competition for places in the Galway forward line is intense, and with Damien Comer and Shane Walsh nailed on for two of the Full-Forward line spots, Culhane has been forced to battle with Robert Finnerty, Ian Burke and others for that final spot.
However, we feel once again that the big break for Culhane could come in 2024. He has been very impressive in the Sigerson Cup since his standout performance in the U20 Final in 2020, and we feel that Joyce might well put faith in him for 2024, and he has shown on countless occasions that he has more than enough talent to reward that faith.
Cian McConville (Armagh)
10 January 2024; Cian McConville of Armagh in action against Conall Devlin, 2, and Lorcan McGarrity of Tyrone during the Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup Group A match between Armagh and Tyrone at BOX-IT Athletic Grounds in Armagh. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
With the surname McConville, you are always bound to receive some spotlight as a footballer in Armagh. It's clear that Cian has inherited some gifts for Gaelic Football brilliance from his uncle Oisín.
Cian has been on the radar for years winning Armagh county championships with Crossmaglen Rangers, and it feels like it's only a matter of time until he receives his big break in the senior team. We feel like that break could come in 2024.
Cormac Egan (Offaly)
24 September 2023; Cormac Egan of Tullamore during the Offaly County Senior Football Championship final match between Ferbane and Tullamore at Glenisk O'Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
An absolute gem in Offaly’s U20 All-Ireland victory in 2021 that captured the hearts of the nation. Cormac Egan is a quality athlete, not just in football, but he also demonstrated his hurling capabilities playing for Offaly’s Hurling U20s last season. However, his heart seems to be in the football, which is fantastic news for Declan Kelly.
Along with Jack Bryant, these two lads were the standouts of Offaly’s U20 All-Ireland winning forward line, and they could likely be the future of Offaly’s forward line at senior level as well.
Cormac operates best around the half-forward line, where he can really utilise his electric pace and seemingly inexhaustible gas tank.
SEE ALSO: Five Footballers Who Could Win Long Overdue First All-Star In 2024
Cian McBride (Meath)
11 August 2018; Conor Raftery of Galway is tackled by Cian McBride of Meath during the Electric Ireland GAA Football All-Ireland Minor Championship semi-final match between Galway and Meath at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile
When a player returns from playing in Australia, it’s often that they make a huge impact. Conor Glass returning for Derry, Conor McKenna returning for Tyrone, Aimee Mackin returning for Armagh, and another name that could be added to that list in time, is Cian McBride returning to Meath.
McBride was a touted prospect for the Meath footballers before he made his move Down Under in 2019 to join Essendon. After his return to Ireland in August, Colm O’Rourke has already brought him into the fold of his Táilteann Cup winning team. With All-Ireland Football guaranteed for next season, the St Ultan's man will be given big minutes in 2024 and is definitely one to keep an eye out for.
Canice Mulligan (Sligo)
5 January 2024; Canice Mulligan of Sligo during the Connacht FBD League quarter-final match between Sligo and Roscommon at University of Galway Connacht GAA AirDome in Bekan, Mayo. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
The beating heart of Sligo’s daring U20 Connacht Champions that went all the way to the All-Ireland Final, Canice Mulligan is a brilliant gaelic footballer. He was captain of that U20 Sligo team, was also named Connacht’s U20 Player of the Championship, while his 'big dogs' acceptance speech also shed light on his confidence in Sligo’s capabilities going forward.
He operates best anywhere around the middle, and with Sligo heading into a campaign in Division 3, they could do with Mulligan’s leadership, energy and quality around the middle.
Niall Devlin (Tyrone)
3 June 2023; Niall Devlin of Tyrone during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Round 2 match between Tyrone and Armagh at O'Neill's Healy Park in Omagh, Tyrone. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Tyrone have had a very tough off-season. The shock appointment of Mickey Harte as Derry boss, combined with the retirements of Ronan McNamee and Niall Sludden, Conor McKenna extending his AFL stay, as well as the injuries to Mattie Donnelly and Kieran McGeary mean that Tyrone need some positivity in the camp, and the injection of some new talent can definitely achieve that.
The Captain of Tyrone’s U20 All Ireland win in 2022, Niall Devlin is a superb defender, and he looks like he would fit right in for Tyrone in 2024. Along with Seán O’Donnell from Trillick, expect to see these two leads feature under Brian Dooher and Fergal Logan in the year ahead.
Dylan Geaney (Kerry)
20 January 2024; Matty Taylor of Cork in action against Dylan Geaney of Kerry during the McGrath Cup final match between Kerry and Cork at Páirc Ui Rinn in Cork. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
Dylan Geaney is a forward who has been in very impressive form for his club Dingle in the Club Championship as they won the Kerry Club Championship before making it all the way to the Munster Final. Geaney looks to be a serious prospect for Kerry, as he also impressed through the ranks for the Kingdom. All of this has also led to gametime in the McGrath Cup, where he has also impressed.
There look to be two spots in the Kerry forward line that are up for grabs, and Dylan Geaney could be very capable of filling out one of the corner forward positions in 2024 and beyond should Jack O’Connor call upon him.
David Buckley (Cork)
20 January 2024; David Buckley of Cork during the McGrath Cup final match between Kerry and Cork at Páirc Ui Rinn in Cork. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
A sharpshooter from Newcestown in Cork, Buckley first impressed with the Cork U20s in 2021 as they claimed Munster glory, as Buckley himself scored 0-10 with 7 of those coming from play as the Rebels defeated Tipperary in the Munster Final. A swift call up to the Cork seniors followed and he got his debut in the league in 2022. However he was plagued by injuries from that point on until late 2023.
A return for Buckley to the Cork side came in the McGrath Cup in 2024, and saw the Rebels defeat Kerry on penalties in the final, with Buckley the top-scorer for Cork in that game. Now that he’s back, if the sharpshooter can stay fit and avoid injuries, he could be an ace in the pack for the Rebels going forward.
James McGrath (Kildare)
13 May 2023; James McGrath of Kildare in action against Rossa Sloyan of Sligo during the Eirgrid GAA Football All-Ireland U20 Championship Final between Kildare and Sligo at Kingspan Breffni in Cavan. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
The U20 Player of the Year as Kildare won the All-Ireland U20 Championship, McGrath was also a leading figure in the side that reached the final against Tyrone in 2022. Kildare have many prospects expected to progress into the senior team over the next few years, and McGrath is the pick of the bunch at Centre Half Back.
Seán Morahan (Mayo)
20 April 2022; Sean Morahan of Mayo during the EirGrid Connacht GAA Football Under 20 Championship Final match between Mayo and Sligo at Markievicz Park in Sligo. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
Another new defender on the horizon for Mayo, Seán Morahan was named the captain of the Mayo U20s last year under Maurice Sheridan. Kevin McStay has already drafted him into the senior setup, and with the many defenders who have left the Mayo panel over the last few years, including Oisín Mullen, Lee Keegan, Colm Boyle, Brendan Harrison and so on, the Castlebar man is an obvious candidate to step up.
