At the launch of the Meath & District League’s 2010 / 2011 FAI Oscar Traynor Trophy campaign on Saturday were manager Paddy O’Reilly (left), Barry Woods (Carrick Rovers), David Hoey (Rock Celtic) and Graham Conway (assistant-manager).

Manager ready for Oscar test

Published: Wed 3 Nov 2010, 4:52 PM

Meath & District League representative team manager Paddy O’Reilly will this week finalise his panel of players for the opening game in the FAI Oscar Traynor trophy against the United Churches League (UCL) on Tuesday 9th November. O’Reilly and his assistant manager Graham Conway conducted a training session at the MDL, Navan last Saturday and were pleased with the turn-out of players. The MDL team will play Parkvilla in a friendly this week, also at the MDL, which will probably be a useful exercise for both teams as the Navan side prepare for a crunch FAI Intermediate Cup tie against Skerries. “I have received tremendous co-operation from all the managers and we will definitely have a strong panel of players,” O’Reilly told the Meath Chronicle on Saturday. “In terms of game-time, we might be a bit deficient, but we have some quality players and I’m happy with our preparations. “When you have good players it helps and we will have another training session at the weekend, probably on Saturday and I’d be optimistic about our chances against the UCL next week,” he added. Almost predictably at this stage, the MDL have been included in a three-team group with top Dublin league team AUL and it is difficult to see the local side emerging from the group. “This is a tough group, the AUL would be expected to advance, but regardless of how we fare I would like to see the representative team continue,” suggested O’Reilly. “Perhaps we could play some friendly games against some of the local League of Ireland teams when they are preparing for their new season next February. “That would be a great boost for our players and it might also help to generate more interest in the whole idea of representative football,” added the manager. The MDL first played in the FAI Oscar Traynor Trophy in 1984 when they were beaten (0-2) by the Leinster Junior League. That game was played at Tully Park, Trim and was attended by the then FAI president John Farrell. MDL Oscar Traynor panel - David Conway, Barry O’Callaghan, Mark McCormack, Paul Campbell, Derek Donohoe (Trim Celtic); Shaun Doyle (Kentstown Rovers); Keith Martin, Graham Conway, Brian Murphy (Duleek); Mark McKeever (Torro); Tommy O’Hare (Glenmuir); Barry Woods, Ger Connolly, Brendan Kerley (Carrick); Dwayne Crosby, Paul Clarke, Fergal Diamond (Square); Danny Woods, Derek Delaney, Seamus McCabe, Gerry Breen (Rock); Thomas McShane (Quay Celtic); Gary McKenna (Clones Town); Ian Cusack, Paul McGroarty (Albion).