Youth Focus
Welcome to the first edition of Youth focus for 2012. January has been a particularly busy month for some of the older age groups. At Youth level our U-18's have reached the last 16 of both the Connacht Youth Cup and F.A.I. Youth Cup competitions.
Ryan Manning and Thomas Gleeson were the goalscorers in two competitive and entertaining games played recently against Knocknacarra (3-0),and Salthill Devon (2-0) in the F.A.I. Youth Cup.
At U-17 level we have reached the Quarter finals of the F.A.I. U-17 National Cup following an exciting clash with Limerick side Herbertstown, in a game played at the superb Astro turf facility at Aisling Annacotty last Sunday. After going behind to an early goal the Mervue players responded well with goals from Ryan Manning and Richard Fahy to take a 2-1 interval advantage.
However Herbertstown started the second half with the same intensity as their first half intro and were rewarded after ten minutes with a spectacular equaliser. From there on neither side gave an inch as the game swung from end to end with near misses and some ferocious defending denying either side a clear advantage.
Extra time beckoned followed by the dreaded penalty shootout. Mervues' replacement keeper Peter Healy who had only entered the game at the end of normal time for the injured Gary Farrell proved to be the hero saving three penalties. Dylan Thornton, John Rhattigan, Thomas Gleeson and Ryan Manning despatched their penalties with aplomb to send their side through to the National quarter final.Our U-16 team are Dublin bound on Sunday 12th of February to take on North Dublin Schoolboys outfit Swords Celtic in the last 32 of the S.F.A.I. Barry Cup. Having already reached the quarter final of the Connacht Youth cup following an impressive 4-0 victory over Conn Rangers two weeks ago the management team of Paul Moynihan and Ollie Neary will be hoping that their side can advance where a home tie awaits the winners in the next round.
This Sunday (5th February) sees our U-15 team head to the capital to meet D.D.S.L. side Malahide United in what promises to be an intriguing clash in the last 32 of the S.F.A.I. Evans Cup U-15. Managers Colin Conneely and Derek Lally will be expecting big performances from Robert Carroll, Conor Melody, Shane Gillespie, Bobby Keane, Andrew Connolly, Marcin Sydrow and Dylan Maloney as they look to advance to the last sixteen. Kick off time for this game is 2pm. Best of luck to the lads.
Regards
Justin Neary
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Stephen Lally, the club's youth development officer, had a meeting with all the club coaches from ages 5 to under 18 and it was agreed by all in attendance that we need to focus on player development. All coaches attended the Coerver Coaching introductory course at the end of August.
Stephen agreed to put on three workshops for the Roots Academy coaches and three workshops for youth team coaches during the season and that all coaches would improve their coaching badges by attending FAI courses through coach education.
Roots Academy coaches had two workshops the first held in September and the second held in January and our youth coaches had their first workshop in November. It was agreed that if we get better coaches it will develop better players and our club teams will benefit as a result.
All teams still have a lot to play for in their respective leagues. We would like to wish the U16, U17, U18's club teams the best of luck in Irish cups. The U12, U16, U18's in the Connacht cups and the U14 team in the Connacht shield. The U7, U8, U9, U10, U11's are all playing in their development leagues and making great strides.
The club would like to congratulate Rynal Browne, Colie Kelly and Gary O`Connor who all attended the youth cert, Benny Fahy who completed his Kick Start 1 and 2 badges and Ger Mc Grath, Ger Aberton, Sean Griffin and Mitch Grealish who completed their Kick Start 1 badge.
Stephen Lally
Youth Development Officer
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