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Represented Clubs. Today’s game sees nine clubs represented in the Irish Schools International Squad. They are Cherry Orchard, Cork City FC, Finn Harps, Limerick FC, Mervue United AFC, Salthill Devon FC, Shelbourne FC, Sligo Rovers FC, and St. Patricks Athletic FC.
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Managers Notes. Matchday notes from Limerick FC U19’s manager, Declan Farmer.
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ood evening and welcome to today’s game between our own Under-19 squad here at Limerick FC and the Irish Schools International Team. We would like to extend a warm welcome to Ollie Horgan, his backroom team, players, FAI Schools officials and the relations of those involved, as well as those who have come out to show their support for the teams. This is a great opportunity for us here in Limerick, bringing the Irish Schools to this part of the country. There are a lot of things going on with the Irish Schools and generally they happen in Dublin with it being the capital city. However, Limerick is the third biggest city in the Republic of Ireland and we are delighted to have this game today. It is great for the players from the Munster area and their families to be able to travel here for the match and I’m hoping that there will be a good atmosphere. I have a good relationship with Ollie Horgan. Ollie is always open to looking at new players and he has included a number of our players in his squads over the past couple of seasons. We are always developing and improving and a lot of our players have been involved with the Munster Schools and such in recent times. That has given Ollie a chance to look at them more. Any exposure for Limerick Football Club is good. We are all pushing for the lads to put themselves in the shop window and show what they can do – that in turn can lead to clubs coming to look at our players which may lead to them playing at a higher level, which is everyone’s ambition. Today, we will have a lot of younger lads involved in the first half and older
lads in the second half. We have a few guys in training with us who are not yet registered to play in competitive games so this is a good opportunity to have a look at them against strong opposition. These young lads – where I include the likes of Evan Cusack, Ross Fitzgerald, Seán McSweeney and Paudie O’Connor, some of whom have not had that much game-time – are the future of the club. It is a very positive day for the area to have this game. It is great to see that Ollie is open and willing to bring the Irish Schools team to Limerick. Going forward, we would hope to get an opportunity to bring the Irish Under-17 squad down which would be more exposure for us. We have a lot of quality in our Under-19 squad here and hopefully today everyone in attendance will get to see the best of what we have to offer. Enjoy the game.
DECLAN FARMER
IRISH SCHOOL INT.
MANAGER DECLAN FARMER
MANAGER OLLIE HORGAN
O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O
O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O
IRISH SCHOOLS INTERNATIONAL SQUAD
Nathan MURRAY Gavin WHYTE Colm MURPHY Tony WHITEHEAD Paudie O'CONNOR Mark HOBAN Nathan KELLY Kieran HANLON Seán MCSWEENEY Cian O'DONOGHUE James MCGRATH Gavin DILLON Matt KEANE Conor MCGUIRE Ross FITZGERALD Mikey GREED Evan CUSACK Tadhg RYAN Shane COSTELLOE Ross MANN Michael GUERIN PLAYER Maxime Kouogum Craig Donnellan Christopher Flanagan Joe McIntyre Jonathan Carlin AJ O’Connor Shane Walsh Evan Shine Val Feeney Peter Healy Padraic Cunningham Ryan Manning Aran McConnell Patrick Madden Antaine Ó Laoí Jack Brady Liam Flatley Jack Bayly
Maxime KOUOGUM Craig DONNELLAN Christopher FLANAGAN Joe MCINTYRE Jonathan CARLIN AJ O’CONNOR Shane WALSH Val FEENEY Peter HEALY Padraic CUNNINGHAM Ryan MANNING Aran MCCONNELL Patrick MADDEN Antaine Ó LAOÍ Jack BRADY Liam FLATLEY Jack BAYLY
SCHOOL Colaiste Chairain, Leixlip Colaiste Chriost Rí Saint Eunan’s College, Letterkenny Abbey Vocational Saint Columba’s College, Stranorlar Desmond College CBS Sexton Street, Limerick CBS Sexton Street, Limerick Colaiste Phobal, Roscrea Saint Enda’s College, Galway Presentation College, Headford Yeats College Colaiste Iognaid, Galway Saint Jarlath’s College, Galway Colaiste Cholmcille, Galway Saint Anne’s Community College Balla Community School, Mayo Salesians College, Celbridge
CLUB Cherry Orchard U17s Cork City Finn Harps Finn Harps Finn Harps U19s Limerick Limerick Limerick Limerick Mervue United Mervue United Mervue United Salthill Devon Salthill Devon Salthill Devon Shelbourne Sligo Rovers Saint Patrick’s Athletic U19s
LIMERICK FOOTBALL CLUB
IRISH SCHOOLS INT.
Ross Mann in action for Limerick FC U19’s against Longford Town. Photo: Conor Wyse.
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Munster collect Interprovincial Cup. Nine Limerick U19 players present in the cup winning squad.
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ine Limerick FC Under-19 players were part of the 17-man Munster squad which won the Interprovincial Cup in Donegal on Sunday, 24 October last. The tournament – for players born in 1996/97 – took place over three days in Letterkenny, with Munster’s Under-18s seeing off Leinster 1-0, Ulster 3-0 and, in their last game, Connaught 5-2. Ross Mann netted two in the final game, while Paudie O’Connor and Evan Cusack had netted in the other wins.
Saturday 23 October: Munster 3-0 Ulster. Munster – who soaked up the pressure that a fine Ulster side put them under – broke the deadlock on 15 minutes when Ross Mann broke down the right and played the ball to Evan Shine who coolly laid the ball off to the Munster No6 to finish. In the final quarter-hour, Munster put the game to bed with Cusack smashing to the net on 75 minutes before a Waterford United representative added another.
Munster manager Frank Kelleher remarked afterwards: “The Limerick lads are a credit to the club. They have been fantastic.” The nine Superblues in the squad were AJ O’Connor, Gavin Whyte, Shane Walsh, Evan Shine, Conor Maguire, Val Feeney, Ross Mann, O’Connor and Cusack. Michael Guerin, Mark Hoban and Ronan Coughlan had also been selected but were unable to take their place in the squad due to prior engagements.
Sunday 24 October: Munster 5-2 Connaught. The final day saw Munster dominate proceedings with two fine goals from Ross Mann. To put this victory into perspective, according to Frank Kelleher it was the first time in 18 years that Munster won the Interprovincial Trophy. Frank was delighted to lift the trophy. He made special reference to all the Limerick FC lads that were part of the 17-man squad. There were nine boys from Limerick FC in the squad and three others that were selected but couldn’t make the trip. Frank complimented the Limerick FC players’ commitment and dedication to the victory. He described the Limerick lads as role models and gave great praise to the Limerick FC Under-19 manager Declan Farmer and assistant manager Tommy Barrett for the work and dedication they show their players.
Friday 22 October: Munster 1-0 Leinster. After an even opening period, Munster started to get the upper hand in the second half. Twenty minutes from time, a Munster corner from Evan Cusack to the near post was steered skilfully by Paudie O’Connor to the back of the net, which proved enough to secure victory.
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Val Feeney, Limerick FC U19’s, taking the free-kick which made it 1-0 v Mervue United.
The Limerick FC U19 starting line-up v Cobh Ramblers. Both photos courtesy of Conor Wyse Photography.