Kennedy Cup Report

Colemanstown United F.C. congratulate Thady Moran on his recent exploits with Galway’s Kennedy Cup squad. The competition kicked off on Aug 12th in University of Limerick with 32 teams in action with each team playing three group games before the pool winners emerged to stay in contention for the Kennedy Cup proper.  The Galway boys took on WWEC (West Waterford/ East Cork) in their first game on Day 1 with Thady starting in right midfield as the Galway side were convincing 5-1 winners. Day 2 was quite busy with 2 group games down for action. First up were West Cork whom Galway beat 3-0 as Thady was called into action in the 2nd half. Later that same afternoon, Galway beat South Dublin of the Dublin & District School boys league 2-0 and so topped the group to earn a place in the quarter final. After an enthralling game on Wed 14th against Kildare in the quarter final Galway snatched a last kick of the game equaliser to finish level on 1-1 but the Galway boys emerged victorious 4-2 on penalties. On June 15th Galway took on a strong Sligo/Leitrim side which again finished in stalemate 1-1 as both sides looked like the weekend of top action was taking its toll with some tired bodies in evidence. Galway took the lead early in the 2nd half but conceded the equaliser 5mins later. Again, the game ended on penalties as the Sligo/Leitrim side ended Galway’s fine run 10-9 on penalties.  On Friday the Galway lads played the 3rd/4th place play off against Cork, again with Thady named in the starting XI but were unlucky losing out 3-1. This entire competition is extremely professionally run by the SFAI and is the first real opportunity for U14’s to take on the best talent in their age group on a national stage. The Galway FA had put in massive efforts with a regimental daily routine as set out by the management team. Players were afforded times for naps between games and sessions with the teams dietician which all added to the enormity of the week. It was an experience beyond belief for Thady Moran and his team mates and we in Colemanstown United are extremely proud of his achievements in Limerick which I’m sure will go much further than that. It shows what can be achieved not alone by Thady but all other players within our club who partake in the FAI Emerging Talent trials, when attitude, commitment and level headedness are in the equation. There’s no doubt but there is hugely promising signs for the upcoming U15 Galway United FC team.

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