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31st March 2017
05:19pm BST
Ireland has never been short of sporting talent throughout the years and today is no different.
Countless sports have been touched by proud bearers of the tricolour in recent years and this lot will be looking to follow in the footsteps of Annalise Murphy and the O'Donovan brothers who have been shot directly into the public eye in the past year or so.
Here's our compilation of the nine Irish sports stars who are about to change the game:
This Dubliner has already experienced the type of heartbreak that sport can bring.
Having endured the agony of missing out on the Rio Olympics by 0.07 seconds. The 29-year-old now hopes to make up for that by qualifying for Tokyo 2020.
The Galway native has been delighting Queens Park Rangers fans with his performances in the English Championship this season.
Equally comfortable as a pacey winger, a forward or a bruising midfielder in the mould of Roy Keane, it shouldn't be too long before the 20-year-old makes a senior international debut.
Unbelievable feeling to make my debut for @QPRFC yesterday and more importantly to get all 3 points. ????????????⚪️ pic.twitter.com/ou2STtZBdU
— Ryan Manning (@ryanmanning4) January 1, 2017
"If it was any other 20-year-old I'd probably hold him back."
The words of Conor McGregor's coach John Kavanagh on 'The Strabanimal' who is set to be unleashed upon the MMA world.
Gallagher will fight Chinzo Machida in Madison Square Garden on June 24th.
Judging by the following tweet, we wonder has he been taking trash talk inspiration from anyone in particular?
Theres no 20year old in MMA has done what I'm about to do Thats a fact not a cocky prediction Follow the script of the greatest of all time
— james gallagher (@StrabanimalMMA) March 23, 2017
A recent recipient of the Under-19 Women's Player Of The Award, McLaughlin graduated into the senior Irish team in 2016.
Now playing with Shelbourne at club level, great things are expected of the Donegal native.
If ever someone has been thrown in at the deep end, it's this multi-talented Clare woman.
Considine made her name as a dual GAA star for the Banner County and had only played three and a half games of rugby before representing Ireland at senior level.
She now hopes to play a pivotal role as Ireland host the Women's Rugby World Cup this coming August.
The 17-year-old Kerryman shot to fame by riding Labaik to Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham a few weeks back.
Regarded as one of the biggest up and coming talents for national hunt racing.
Labaik & @jackkennedy15 @gelliott_racing @camsharples pic.twitter.com/rjvgHb2KhI
— Jackie Kingdom (@jak812) March 28, 2017
Already a winner of both the GAA/GPA Hurler and Young Hurler of the Year awards, hopes are extremely high for the Mount Sion man among the Deise faithful.
The 21-year-old will be pivotal over the coming years as Waterford aim to finally secure a first All-Ireland since 1959.
Just last week, the Wexford man rode mare Molly Malone to a third place finish at the Grand Palais in Paris.
Just a week previously, he was on board Quiet Easy as he won the 1m55 prize in The Netherlands.
Expect to hear a lot more about this 21-year-old.
Talking of #TopShots - how effortless do @BertramAllen123 and Molly Malone look #flyinghigh at #LGCTDoha? #Skills pic.twitter.com/CuDgtkFsMl
— Longines Global Champions Tour (@GCT_events) November 24, 2015
Already making a name for herslef as one of Europe's top middle-distance runners, the Down girl already has a European Championship bronze medal under her belt.
Will be hoping to improve on her semi-final appearance in Rio at the Tokyo games in three years time.
#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/aHDCtUNnp9
— Ciara Mageean (@ciaramageean) February 2, 2017
(header pic credit: @GCT_events)
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