READY TO GO Mayo’s Kennedy Cup panel pictured, some of whom won’t travel due to injury.
Mayo boys in the zone
Preview
Edwin McGreal
a TOTAL of eleven different Mayo clubs will be represented this week in the SFAI U-13 Kennedy Cup which takes place in the University of Limerick.
As a sign of the rude health the game in the county is at this particular age group, the fact that the squad of 20 comes from such a broad range of clubs is a very good one indeed.
Liam Loftus, who is in charge of the FAI’s Emerging Talent Programme in Mayo for the U-12, U-13 and U-14 age groups is, as a result the manager of the Mayo Kennedy Cup squad.
The Emerging Talent Programme is an FAI initiative which aims to technically improve players from a young age by bringing them to a central location once a week.
Mayo have been successful in this regard and Loftus adds that the presence of eleven clubs on the Kennedy Cup squad this year can’t but reflect well on the game in the county.
“It’s a great spread to have such a good spread of clubs. In previous years the players would just have come from three or four clubs but it’s a sign of how well the game is improving that eleven clubs are represented,” admitted Loftus.
The Emerging Talent Programme has been key, he insists. “All of these players have been involved with the FAI’s Emerging Talent Programme at Milebush for the last two years. I’m pleased with how the Emerging Talent Programme is going. The whole point of the programme is to bring kids in on a regular basis to get them practising the techniques of the game.
“Every Thursday night the U-13s meet, the U-12s on a Sunday and the U-14s on a Wednesday for 52 weeks of the year. We try to make sure we don’t clash with the GAA. We have a programme from the FAI on techniques and we stick to it religiously. The players seem to like it, they wouldn’t be coming back otherwise!”
Mayo travel this week with injuries a major problem. Two members of last year’s squad who are underage this year both have had injury problems. Kiltimagh/Knock’s John Mountney made the cut but a broken arm will rule out Ballina Town’s Clive Judge.
Mayo play in a group along with West Cork, Midlands and NECSL and Liam Loftus believes his team will have it all to do. But he is keen to stress the importance of the experience this week will provide the players.
“It will be difficult down there. A lot of the areas have great picks, places like Cork, Galway and the DDSL (Dublin and District Schoolboys League). We’re going down there with the intention of playing football but it will be difficult to come out of our group.
“You can’t have a win at all costs mentality though,” he added. “Last year we brought the lads down there with every intention of enjoying the experience. They are only kids, it was a big treat for them to be away for a week playing football. You can’t really put any more pressure than that on them.”
Mayo began their campaign yesterday at 5pm (for result see page 26) and play their second and third group games today (Tuesday). Results will determine where Mayo go from there. The winners remain in the Kennedy Cup with a range of other competitions to be contested to ensure teams have games past the group games.
Mayo panel: Evan Regan, Daniel Gorman (both Ballina Town); Fergal Murphy, Patrick Ward (both Ballinrobe Town); Sean Kilcoyne (Ballyheane); Aaron Reilly (Castlebar Celtic); Michael Corrigan, Martin Owens, Sean Quinn (all Charlestown Athletic); Conor Brennan, Ryan Quirke, Andrew Shelly (all Claremorris); Stephen McHugh (Kilmurray); Kieran McCormack, John Mountney, Michael Pielow (all Kiltimagh/Knock United); Luke Timmiss (Manulla); Cormac Rushe (Urlaur United); Jamie Fallon, Aaron Harper (both Westport United).
Management: Liam Loftus, Kenneth Gannon (Westport United), Michael Hutton (Claremorris), Patrick Corrigan (Charlestown Athletic).
