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2017 Dublin minor boss takes charge of talented Sky Blues U20s side for next season

Tom Gray led Dublin to the Leinster minor football title earlier this summer.

Tom Gray Tommy Dickson / INPHO Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO

TOM GRAY HAS been appointed as Dublin U20s football manager for the 2018 campaign.

The Na Fianna clubman has been working with this group of Dublin players for a number of years, coaching them as U16s in 2015 before he led them to the Leinster minor title earlier this year.

Dublin were upset by Derry in the All-Ireland semi-final, but there are high hopes that a number of this year’s minor team will make the step up to senior level in the coming years.

James Madden and Peadar O Cofaigh Byrne were among the standout players at the recent AFL Combine held in UCD.

Peadar O’Cofaigh Byrne with Conor Gillespie Peadar O’Cofaigh Byrne during the Leinster minor final Oisin Keniry / INPHO Oisin Keniry / INPHO / INPHO

Madden, who plays with Ballyboden St Enda’s, set the all-time record for 20 metre sprint with a time of 2.68 seconds, while O Cofaigh Byrne – a fine athlete – also impressed scouts with a strong showing in the grueling yo-yo test.

Elsewhere forwards Ross McGarry (Ballyboden St Enda’s) and James Doran (Na Fianna), plus wing-back Eoin O’Dea (Na Fianna) appear to have bright futures in the Sky Blue.

Ross McGarry attempts a shot on goal Ross McGarry Gary Carr / INPHO Gary Carr / INPHO / INPHO

Six members of this year’s U21 All-Ireland winning panel are also eligible for the U20s next year – Evan Comerford (Ballymun Kickhams), Dan O’Brien (Kilmacud Crokes), Seán Bugler (St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh), Cormac Howley, Aaron Duffy (both Round Tower, Lusk) and Aaron Bradshaw (Ballinteer St John’s).

Evan Comerford Stephen Cluxton's back-up - Evan Comerford Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO

Dublin have been drawn in a group with Longford, Wexford and Westmeath for the Leinster U20 football championship, which will start next May.

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