Mayo U21 wing-back thought to be first Pakistan-born player to win an All-Ireland U21 medal

"I couldn't confirm that for you but I'll take it."

That's what Mayo's Shairoze Akram had to say when RTÉ's Darragh Maloney told him that he was the first Pakistan-born player to win an All-Ireland.

Akram, born in Haroonabad, Pakistan, featured prominently as Mayo's U-21s trumped Cork 5-7 to 1-14 in the final to secure the county's first EirGrid All-Ireland U21 football championship in a decade.



The Ballaghaderreen clubman epitomised the dogged, pressurising game of Mayo throughout the game in Ennis and it is believed that Akram really is the first Pakistan-born player to claim an All-Ireland medal.

And the history made by Akram, who also featured in the Mayo minor team that reached an All-Ireland semi-final in 2014, didn't go unnoticed after the game.

Congratulations to Shairoze Akram, who became the first Irish Pakistani to Win an All Ireland u21 medal. #NewIrish pic.twitter.com/ABlYgnJthg — Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri (@DrUmarAlQadri) May 1, 2016

Shairoze Akram was born in Pakistan. Yesterday he became the first Pakistani born man to an all-Ireland Medal pic.twitter.com/7aGdZMqTWr — Seán Murray (@sean_murray1) May 1, 2016

Shairoze Akram first man born in Pakistan to win All-Ireland medal... There'll not be a cow miked in Lahore, proud day for the parish #Mayo — Des Henderson (@desfilmsstuff) May 1, 2016

Congrats @MayoGAA & Pakistani born Shairoze Akram - first man from his country to win an All-Ireland medal #Under21 pic.twitter.com/Q9dyeohvtl — Falls Road Tours (@FallsRoadTours) April 30, 2016