"To win the All-Ireland and win this as well is unreal"

Tyrone star Eoin McElholm spoke of the “unreal” feeling after being named the 2025 Dalata Hotel Group GAA U20 Footballer of the Year.

McElholm for the Red Hands as they recorded back-to-back All-Ireland U20FC triumphs after defeating Louth (5-16 to 0-17) in last month’s final.

The Loughmacrory ace scored 6-24 in this year’s U20 championship, including a 2-4 haul against the Wee County in the decider, and was named as the competition’s ‘Footballer of the Year’ yesterday.

"It's something I dreamed of when I started playing U20s," McElholm told BBC Sport NI.

"To win the All-Ireland and win this as well is unreal."

On the importance of the U20 grade for young players, he added: "It's a stepping stone but it's also a competition in itself that will be remembered for years by the boys that won it. It's an unbelievable reward, winning the U20 and especially a few boys in the team, including me, won it back-to-back."

🏐 #GAA news: @TyroneGAALive Eoin McElholm named Dalata Hotel Group U20 Footballer of the Year ⬇️

— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 11, 2025