Sport in Northern Ireland is on the rise with the country producing lots of talented athletes in an array of different fields.
From Carl Frampton to Jonny Evans there are many more famous sports stars who started out in Northern Ireland before going on to become successful and forge a career in their chosen field.
And the next generation promises to be no different.
Here are 7 of the best of our young sports stars to watch out for:
1. Aaron Sexton
The North Down teenager is a 100m and 200m runner who recently smashed Jason Smyth’s 12 year Northern Irish Under 20 100m record with a championship best performance time of 10.52 seconds at the All Ireland Track and Field Championships.
The 17 year old was crowned ‘Male of the meet’ and also won the 100m sprint at the Ni and Ulster Senior Track and Field Championships with another impressive time of 10.69 seconds.
He is also the Commonwealth Youth 200m Champion and has today been included on Ulster Rugby’s bench for Saturday’s pre-season clash with Gloucester. He is definitely one to keep your eye on.
2. Ayeisha McFerran
Larne native Ayeisha has been in the news recently after her heroics along with the rest of the Ireland squad at the Women’s Hockey World Cup where they managed to come second despite next to no funding.
The 22 year old, former Larne Ladies footballer was instrumental to Ireland’s run to the final and was recognised for her efforts with the Best Goalkeeper at the tournament award. She is the youngest keeper to play for Ireland making her debut in 2014 against Spain just a day after turning 18.
It seems like the sky is now the limit for young Ayeisha who surely has a long career in the sport ahead of her.
3. Ellie McCartney
Ellie is an 18 year old Pole Vaulter and Triple Jumper from Belfast. She won gold in both events at the recent Under 20 All Irelands and holds the Ulster record in the Pole Vault at 3.51m,a new Northern Irish record which also ranks as the 3rd highest in the UK.
The Belfast High School student is currently at the Manchester international Athletics tournament where she won a gold medal in the Paul Vault with a score of 3.90m an Irish Under 20 record.
She keeps raising the bar (pardon the pun) and it will be interesting to see just how far she will go.
Pic Credit: www.belfasthigh.org.uk
4. Ethan Galbraith
The 17 year old hit the headlines last year after signing for one of the biggest clubs in the world Manchester United on a one year scholarship after being spotted playing for Linfield Youth Under 16 side and impressing during a trial at Carrington.
The Northern Ireland Under 18 international who hails from Glengormley has not looked back since, featuring 15 times for United’s Under 18 side as they won the U18 Premier League North title. The defensive midfielders standout moment was his first and only goal for the Red Devils so far, a ferociously struck drive from outside the box against rivals Man City as United clinched the League.
That goal was voted as the club’s ‘Goal of the Month’ in April ahead of strikes from current first teamers Pogba, Lukaku and Sanchez. His stellar first campaign saw him sign his first professional contract with the club in May which allows him to now train with the first team.
With Northern Ireland Manager Michael O’Neill eagerly watching the youngster’s meteoric rise to fame a first cap for his country shouldn’t be too far down the line for a player who has the world at his feet.
5. James Edgar
Queen’s University Student James Edgar has quite the year so far. The 19 year old from Lisburn competed in the Commonwealth Games as a Triathlete for Ireland coming a remarkable 22nd place on the Gold Coast having previously represented both Ireland and Northern Ireland in European competitions.
James was the 2016 Irish Junior Triathlon Champion before making the step up to become a senior triathlete. He recently went to the ETU Sprint Triathlon European Cup in Poland where he came a respectable 28th.
If this year is anything to go by he has a bright future as a triathlete.
6. Lauren Perry
Goalkeeper Lauren shot to fame last year when she made her senior Northern Ireland Women’s  debut aged just 16 against Norway. The now 17 year old received rave reviews that night picking up Player of the Match for an inspiring performance between the sticks. That was the icing on the cake of a pretty perfect year for the Ballynahinch footballer.Â
Lauren had already starred for Northern Ireland’s Under 19 side in the European Championships last summer and continued to impress for her club side Linfield Ladies, starting in the Ladies’ Champions League Qualifier. The youngster who started playing when she was just 7 years old was rewarded for her brilliance at the end of season awards where picked up a hat-trick of prizes. She won the NIWFA Women’s Personality of the Year, Ulster Women’s Player of the Year and the NIFL Player of the Year. If her career continues in the upward trajectory that it already has she may well find herself in professional football before long.
Pic Credit: www.linfieldfc.com
7. Rhys McClenaghan
The future of Northern Irish Gymnastics Rhys McClenaghan has had a remarkable year to date. The Newtownards teenager came first in the artistics gymnastics World Cup before winning Northern Ireland’s first gold medal at the Commonwealth Games where he defeated his idol, who he’d been watching since 2010 Max Whitlock in the Pommel Horse to top the podium.
He repeated the feat at the European Athletics Championships in Glasgow where he won gold with a Personal Best score of 15.300. His next target is the Olympics and the nation will watch on in anticipation as he bids to make it to the 2020 games in Tokyo.