NECSL set for tough Kennedy Cup test
An influx of 640 young soccer players from around the country will descend on the University of Limerick to take part in the annual Kennedy Cup tournament and among them will be a contingent of youngsters from the North Eastern Counties Schoolboys League. Players from Meath, Cavan and Monaghan will make up the 20-strong NECSL squad. They will compete in six matches against other leagues from around the country. Thirty-two leagues from around the country will each send a squad of 20 u-13 players to the tournament. The first step towards the tournment started for the NECSL back in September when a seris of trials were held. A squad was selected and since then have played 15 games and attended over 30 training sessions. In April the squad travelled to Galway for a two-day training camp which culminated in a 1-0 win over the Galway Schoolboys League. "The costs of taking 20 players and four coaches to Limerick for a week, and also to Galway for a weekend, are not insignificant, and this was made possible by the generosity of local businesses and individuals who kindly donated money to the team," explained FAI Development Officer Mark Scanlon. "The coaching team would also like to thank the players and their parents for the time, money and effort they have put into taking part in the squad. Their dedication has been absolutely fantastic." The team looking after the squad in Limerick consists of Conor Murphy (coach), Murt Doyle (coach), Mark Scanlon (coach and FAI Development officer), Noel Walsh (goalkeeper coach), David Murphy (first aid) and Margaret Sherdian (NECSL committee representative). The NECSL squad is: Colm Honan (Parkvilla), Thomas Rogers (Bailieboro Celtic), Fionn Reilly (Kells Blackwater), David Wilson (Carrick Rovers), James Reilly (Kells/Blackwater), Chris O'Neill (Parkvila), Patrick Farrelly (Kells/Blackwater), Andrew Glynn (Enfield Celtic), Jerome McLoughlin (Parkvilla), Jason Rahill (Bailieboro Celtic), Charlie Bird (Longwood AFC), Ben Nagle (Virginia Bhoys), Micháel Smart (Virginia Bhoys), Brian Magee (Virginia Bhoys), Daire Rowe (Newtown), Ryan Murphy (Parkvilla), Patrick Byrne (Kells/Blackwater), Jake Byrne (Longwood AFC), Ben Hoey (Parkvilla), Jack Byrne (Longwood AFC).