Westport star enjoys Ireland call-up

Hoban enjoys Ireland call-up


Neill O’Neill

WESTPORT United striker David Hoban is back focusing on the FAI Junior Cup this week, after his successful experience with the Republic of Ireland’s Junior international team, which claimed the Umbro Quadrangular Trophy on Saturday.
Ireland, managed by Gerry Smith, won all three of their games to record an emphatic victory in the tournament, running out 3-0 winners against Scotland, 5-0 against the Isle of Man, and 1-0 against Northern Ireland.
Hoban (30), one of only two Connacht players in the squad and the only Mayo representative, played for an average of half an hour in each match, putting in accomplished performances, where he set up two goals and hit the post.
The tournament was held in Limerick, and Hoban spent four nights in the city on the Shannon estuary with his new team-mates, something he described as ‘a great experience’.
Hoban had trials with the Irish team over the past number of months before breaking into the first team. He described the set-up as ‘very professional’ and as a ‘great learning experience’.
“These lads don’t hang around, they tell you when you’re delaying, it is all one-touch football,” he told The Mayo News. “Sitting on the bench beside lads from the top junior teams in the country, you don’t feel one bit bad,” he added.
There are other tournaments coming up for the Republic of Ireland squad over the next number of years, and Hoban is optimistic that he can remain part of Gerry Smith’s plans.
The 20 man squad which represented their country last week is comprised of players participating at Junior Level (that at which Westport United play) only, and Hoban will now add those three international caps to another he received earlier this year, also against Northern Ireland.