Galway U-15 side to represent Ireland in Poland

Keith Kelly

A group of young soccer stars from Galway fly out to Poland this week to represent their country in an underage tournament which will also feature teams from Germany, Italy, France and hosts Poland.

The Galway FA U-15 squad, which will be managed by Nigel Keady and Derek Rogers, is travelling to Torun on Friday for the three-day tournament. The 19-strong squad features players from Barna/Furbo FC, Galway Hibernians, Knocknacarra FC, Mervue United, Moyne Villa, Renmore FC and Salthill Devon, and all are part of the FAI’s Emerging Talent programme in Galway.

The invitation to take part in the tournament was extended to the Galway United Supporters’ Trust after a number of Galway United fans based themselves in Torun for Euro 2012. As a result of links established on that trip between local people and United fans, the GUST was invited to send over a team for the U-15 tournament, an invitation which it passed on to the Galway FA.

“A lot of Irish fans based themselves in Torun for the Euros, including myself and a number of Galway United fans, and we developed a relationship with the people of the city – the Mayor of Torun came over to Galway after the Euros to say ‘thanks’ to Irish fans for the colour and enjoyment they brought to Torun,” said Tommy Shields of the GUST.

“The Torun City Council held an underage tournament in the city last year for clubs in and around Torun, but decided this year to make it an international tournament, and sent an invitation to GUST to enter a team. We passed that invitation on to the Galway FA, so they are sending the league’s U-15 representative side over,” he said.

The GUST is funding the flights for the squad, with Torun City Council footing the bill for all transport, food and accommodation once the side arrives in Poland.

“They have shown real dedication all year, travelling to Headford for training every Monday, and this is a nice reward for them after a long season. They have shown a big improvement on last year, so much so that three of them have been invited to trial for the Irish U-15 side in July, and this trip will be a great experience for the lads,” says Keady, who heads that FAI Emerging Talent programme in Galway, and who was also named recently as the manager of the Galway WFC side which will compete in the 2013/14 Bus Éireann National Women’s League.