A CO Derry born footballer who left his home county as a child is helping to make history as one of the youngest ever minor footballers in his adopted county.
Shay McGlinchey spent his early years in the south Derry parish of Bellaghy before his family moved to Co Galway over a decade ago.
The talented teen comes from a well-known south Derry family and is a grandson of former prominent republican Dominic McGlinchey.
In recent months the 15-year-old has emerged as a midfield powerhouse on the Tribesmen minor squad.
Standing tall at 6" 1' the schoolboy put in a dominant performance last Friday when his county took on Roscommon in the Connacht Minor Football Championship.
A feature of the game was his high fielding and delivery to the forward line as the Galway men knocked up a 3-19 to 1-12 win.
He is believed to be one of the youngest players to ever don a Galway minor jersey and joins an elite band of Gaelic footballers including Derry's Dermot McNicholl who played an All-Ireland minor final aged 14 in 1980.
The teen has also impressed at underage level for his club Tuam Stars and was one of several from there to feature on the St Jarlath's College panel that secured the Connacht Senior A Football Championship title this year.
As the teenager's reputation continues to grow former neighbours are watching his development with interest.
Bellaghy clubman Chris Brown, who managed Derry to an All-Ireland minor title in 2002, said positive reports have made their way back to the teenager's native south Derry.
"He is highly regarded around Tuam as regards Gaelic football and a very big prospect for the future I have heard," he said.
"I would hope he would develop and would end up playing for Galway seniors."
Mr Brown said he "pleased" for the teenager's whole family.
"If he ever wants to come to Bellaghy I would say he will get a jersey," he added.
Shay and his team-mates will take to the field again tonight when they face reigning Connacht title holders Sligo at Markievicz Park.
The match can be watched live by following the link: https://page.inplayer.com/connachtgaa/item.html?id=2925898
