9 Upcoming Irish Sportspeople Who Are About To Change The Game

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:

1. Jenny Egan – Canoeing

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. 

2. Ryan Manning – Football

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

3. James Gallagher – MMA

“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

4. Roma McLaughlin – Football

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. 

5. Eimear Considine – Rugby

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.