GazetteSPORT all of your dun laoghaire sports coverage from page 27-31
Hungary for success: DSDAC runners claim European team title with superb run in Budapest P29
december 13, 2012
local clubs discover fate: Intermediate cup draw sees plenty of home comforts P28
St Joseph’s Boys are hopeful their current crop can continue the excellent performances in recent times in the SFAI All-Ireland cup competitions
Joey’s hunt national glory Sallynoggin club looking forward to 2013 as three of their underage teams have reached the last 32 of the SFAI cup competitions peter carroll
sport@gazettegroup.com
ST JOSEPH’S Boys will look to continue their fantastic tradition in All-Ireland competition with three of their schoolboy teams drawn in the last 32 of the SFAI cup. They will look to continue on from the three in-a-row that last year’s U-16s managed to achieve. However, the road to glory is not likely to be an easy one with all three sides drawing away fixtures: the U-12s travelling to either Ennis or Limerick pending a result; the U-13s heading to journey to Carlow to face New Oak Boys; and the U-16s going to Waterford to face Villa.
Will Clarke, committee member at the Sallynoggin club, spoke of the importance of the competition in the schoolboy game. “It’s the pinnacle of schoolboy football,” he said. “We have a good record with our U-16s in the competition and all our teams that have made it through have a very good chance. “It really is an important competition. For individuals, there will be scouts from all over England looking at the talent and international managers who are looking for their next star. “To be part of an All-Ireland winning team is also a huge feather for any player to have in his cap. As far as the clubs are concerned, it is certainly the most prestigious tournament you can win.”
Speaking about the three away games Clarke believes that alothough they will be very tough games, he says if Joeys go through, they will gain the advantage of the home draw in the latter rounds. “They’re all tough games, but if we manage to get the wins, we will get home advantage in the later stages of the tournament which can only bolster our efforts. “Our U-12s are a brilliant team. They’ve won their last two leagues and, although it’s their first year at 11-a-side, they have settled very well. “We’re very happy with how they’ve come on. They narrowly lost 4-3 to Leicester City in a friendly recently and they have a fantastic
manager in Niall O’Driscoll. “The U-13s have won eight games on the trot in the league so far this season, and they really showcased their strength away from home recently by beating St Kevin’s and St Francis on their own turf. “They also represented Ireland in the Danone Cup, so they are very experienced when it comes to knockout football. “We have five international on our U-16 side and they are a very strong unit. Dun Laoghaire local Dan Casey, who is the Irish captain at his age group, is a big asset to them and there has been a lot of interest shown from English clubs about some of the players in the squad,” he finished.