Broderick backs Mayo FC project

ONE of the best-known players in the Mayo League, who also coaches with Galway United, has described the gap between the Mayo Super League and League of Ireland football as ‘a huge step-up’.
Danny Broderick, who works as a performance coach with Galway United, was speaking in the wake of the announcement that the Mayo League were setting up a League of Ireland club, Mayo FC.
Broderick believes that developing players capable of performing at League of Ireland level would require ‘patience’ but said he had ‘no doubt’ that the Mayo FC project could succeed.
The Claremorris native was part of the Galway United Under-21 set-up which defeated a Mayo selection 4-0 in a recent challenge game in Solar 21 Park.
“It’s huge. I think it’s something that should have happened long ago, and it’s great to finally see that it’s coming to the fore,” he told The Mayo News following the Tuohy Cup final.
“I know that in the background there’s huge work to be done to try and develop that as they go from an underage up to a senior level in a couple of years’ time, but I think they’re going the right way about it.
“The big thing for me is players from Mayo that have gone elsewhere, that have gone to your Sligo Rovers and your Galway Uniteds as well.
“It was just probably the players that don’t have the break here in Mayo to play at Airtricity level,” he added.
The 37-year-old described the difference between League of Ireland and Mayo Super League soccer as ‘massive’ but said that Mayo FC would be ‘a great stepping stone’ for the county’s top junior players.
“I think a lot of people have this thing of ‘if you have a really good club player at junior level, that they have nearly this thing of being able to play at an Airtricity level as well,” said Broderick.
“The gap is massive and that’s the main focus when it comes to the Mayo FC set-up; it’s the development of players and getting them to that standard. “That’s going to be crucial for them to be successful, but also to keep interest within the county as well and produce good players.
“So there’s no doubt about it, the level for junior players and bringing junior players up Airtricity level, it’s huge. But this county has shown that there’s players that can step up to that level with good coaching and stuff.
“I think it’s a great stepping stone for these players and it’s very positive going forward.”
Broderick said that quality coaching would be key to bridging the gap between junior and League of Ireland soccer.
“You could see that last with the Galway Utd/Mayo League Under-21 game, we came down with a strong side. I suppose that was one of those things to show the level you have to get to as well,” he said.
“It’s a great experience for these Under-21 lads here last week to just show the level they have to get to and on and off the pitch the professionalism of the Airtricity League [of Ireland].
“But just in terms of the coaching side of things, things fairly get ramped up when you go to Airtricity level. I’ve no doubt that these fellas will be able to put their best foot forward in Mayo FC and really drive it on in the next couple of years and be successful.”