Down U20 star Daniel McKernan takes next step on road to America

The 18-year-old Saval footballer is among 20 talented young athletes who have come through Leader Kicking’s nationwide search for Ireland’s next American football kicking star. The group will now receive direct specialist coaching as the competition moves towards its next stage in the United States.

After emerging from the regional selection process, Daniel earned the opportunity to take to the field at Aviva Stadium during the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic, where he successfully kicked a field goal at half-time in front of thousands of college football fans.

Now, he will begin the next phase of development with Tadhg Leader and the Leader Kicking team, receiving specialist coaching designed to develop the technique, consistency and mentality required to kick at the highest levels of college football in the US.

Daniel has already had a busy sporting year as he won MacRory cup with his school, play senior for his local club Saval, and also played U20 with Down where he narrowly lost the All-Ireland U20 B Football Final to Sligo.

Daniel McKernan said:

“I’m delighted to have made it through to the next stage. Kicking at the Aviva was an unbelievable experience and I’m really looking forward to getting started with the training now.”

Daniel was identified through Ireland’s Kicking King, a nationwide initiative created by Leader Kicking where exceptional kicking talent can come forward to see if their skills can translate to American football. An estimated 800 to 1,000 male and female athletes aged 16 to 24 took part in open kicking trials held at venues across Ireland throughout August.

Having progressed through that process and experienced the pressure of kicking at Aviva Stadium, Patrick and the other remaining athletes will now receive direct coaching forming a key part of the next stage.

Tadhg Leader, founder of Leader Kicking, said:

“Daniel and the other athletes who have reached this stage now have an opportunity to work directly with us, develop their technique and see just how far their ability can take them. For some of these young players, that could ultimately mean an education and a football career in the United States.”

“One of the most important things about this pathway is that the players come and find us. We’re not going out recruiting or approaching young players and trying to take them away from their clubs or their sport. They see the opportunity, they want to explore it and they make that decision themselves.

“Education is also fundamental to what we’re doing. These athletes aren’t simply leaving Ireland to pursue professional sport, they’re going to university, earning a degree and competing at an elite level at the same time”

The next major prize is a trip to Northwestern University’s new Ryan Field in Chicago, with 10 finalists earning the opportunity to travel to the United States.

From there, the top four will compete in a longest kick competition at Ryan Field on November 7.

All 10 finalists will also receive six months of coaching, academic preparation and college recruitment support from Leader Kicking.

Since launching in 2022, Leader Kicking has helped Irish athletes secure more than $3 million in university scholarships and placed more than 20 athletes into NCAA Division I and NFL programmes.

Its most high-profile success story is Charlie Smyth, who made the journey from Gaelic football in County Down to the NFL with the New Orleans Saints.

Ireland’s Kicking King is supported by Ryan Sports through the Road to Ryan Field initiative which is helping create new educational and sporting opportunities for talented young athletes across Ireland.

For Daniel, the immediate focus is now on coaching, development and earning his chance to take the next step – from Down to Chicago.