Academy closes successful 2017/18 season

Yesterday afternoon, our academy coaches threw an afternoon of football and skills for our underage players aged 6-11years. The season closed with an end-of-season ‘banquet’ to celebrate a long and successful few months and a large number of games played for all age groups in development leagues. Thankfully the rain stayed away for the day so that the youngsters could fully enjoy their day. All 65 children took part in a series of games and skills competitions: Starting with the youngest:

U7’s managed by Nicola O’Donoghue, Elaine Walsh & Valianstina Kapitsa saw 2 teams in action wearing blue and green bibs and a fantastic game and level of skill was played for this age group. Blue team : Ava Forde, Hayden Malone, Angelica Feeney, Adam Kenny, Niamh Lally, Dermot Parker. Niamh, Dermot & Angelica scored for the blues on the day with some exceptional goal celebration trademarks to enjoy.
Green team: Lilly King, Scott O’ Donoghue, Sean Forde, Richie O’Connor, Aoife Walsh. Richie, Aoife & Scott were the goal scorers. Young Scott O’Donoghue wasn’t long correcting his mother to advise he had scored 6 goals on the day and 3 he was credited with. All the squad received medals after the competition.

Our U9’s managed by Barry Forde, Gary Devaney & Kerrill Lally also had  2 teams in action. Red team: Eric Murrajovos, Noah McDonnell, James Feeney, Robbie Lydon, Harry Tierney, Tadhg Bardell, Alan Burke.
Green Team: Adam Devaney, Darren Quirke, Martin Mellody, Tom Holohan, Matthew Harte, Aidan Ruane, John Parker.

Our U11 squad fielded 4 teams and were managed by Robert Parker, Jason Finn, Orla McCaffrey & Fidelma Walsh.
Orange team: Jonah Donnellan, Stephen Murphy, Sean Keating, Ella Carroll, Conor Walsh, Ryan Concannon.
Yellow Team: Josh Buckley, Jamie Lally, Joe Carroll, Cathal Keane, Sean Connolly, Cian Burke, Killian Hughes, Tiernan Malone, Shane Quirke, Daniel Lydon.
Blue Team: Diarmuid Ryan, Fionn Flattery, Aaron Lynsey, Nathan Mannion, Ronan Screene, Ross Lally, Alex Kelly, Evan Walsh, Patrick Flynn, James Queeney.
Red Team: David Walsh, Tadhg Harte, Larry Muravjovs, Ronan Screene, Cathal Kennedy, Darren Moran, Joshua McDonnell.  The yellow team won on the day and Cian Burke was presented with Robbie Parker’s coveted ‘handmade’ World Cup trophy. Cian made a lovely speech thanking all the parents and thanked the coaches for teaching the players the perfect way to play soccer and said how the players appreciated the work put in by the coaches.

There were a number of ’most improved player’s awards’ given out at various age groups which were agreed by the coaching committee. These were awarded as follows: Adam Kenny (U7); Lilly King (U8); Tadhg Bardell (U9); Ryan Concannon (U10): Ella Carroll (U11); Aaron Lynsey (Goalkeeper).

Robbie Parker as Director of Youth academy football said the Academy has a clear purpose and soccer philosophy which is to grow each individual player and above all to enjoy the fun of playing soccer in what is a completely non-competitive environment.  As we move into 2018/19 he looked for new volunteers to help out to grow the academy further.  Our superb academy coaches of Robbie Parker, Jayo Finn, Barry Forde, Nicola O’Donoghue, Orla McCaffrey, Elaine Walsh, Valianstina Kapitsa, Laura Parker with Gary Devaney, Fidelma Walsh & Kerrill Lally joining as later recruits in the season will keep striving to teach and empower the balance of competition and development with each individual academy player we have the privilege to coach as the older lads (U11’s) move on to competitive league action next season.

The club wish to sincerely thank all those who provided yet another beautiful sweet & savoury spread fit for a king. Compliments all round were given to our superb mother and son combination bakers Orla & Josh on the beautiful academy ‘football field’ cake which left both young and old cake worshippers in awe. Thanks to Collette, Aoife, Ann, Ita, Elaine, Helena, Sandra who helped with refreshments and with the tidy up afterwards. Sincere thanks to our remarkable and extraordinary coaches who put in such trojan efforts all year in all sorts of weather conditions.  Finally to you, the parents and your children for taking part in our academy and trusting your child in the professional care of those who will not rest until the standards of the FAI’s Player Development Plan are met so that we are on the right road to achieving the best in terms of player development for these academy players.

A well-deserved break is now due after a successful day as we wait to see what the next chapter will unfold in 2018/19. Photos of the day to follow on the clubs facebook page.