U19 League Key To Homegrown Talent

The Last Word by Brendan White

(first published in the August 2011 Limerick FC match programme)

The Waterford United Under-19 squad are now in training for the upcoming Elite U19 League. Tommy Griffin and Johnny Browne are the new men in charge of the underage side, with the age group making national headlines over the last few weeks.

Paul Doolin’s Republic of Ireland side grabbed second place in their group to set up a semi-final spot against tournament favourites Spain in the European Championship. What followed was disappointment for the Irish side, but the manner of the defeat was something that won’t be forgotten. Reigning senior World and European champions Spain are known for their style of football, but their Under-19 side have certainly shown that the future is very bright. The youngsters dismantled a very talented Irish side on their way to U19 glory, beating Czech Republic 3-2 after extratime in the final.
 
The level of performance from the Spanish was a scary sight, and begs the question, how good can these kids get? These players will no doubt improve in the coming years and will aim to emulate the success of the current senior Spanish side. The ease at which the Spanish played the ball around is something that all sides will now look to emulate, or try to find a way to play against. The keep-ball tactic made famous by Barcelona is now a trademark in Spanish football but do we have the players to be able to compete with it?

The game has evolved throughout the years as a new breed of stars play a new brand of football. The idea of all-out-attack is somewhat challenged by the ease at which the ball is kept, passed around the pitch, holding possession before the final ball is played for the scoring chance to be had. The Spanish players had a game plan that the Irish players just couldn’t counter.

Aidan McGrath: one of Waterford's stars of the future

With the new Under-19 League all set to begin; now more than ever this age group is becoming more and more important. The yearly loss of top players in the League who feel the need to move abroad to make a living and have any chance of making an international career is something that will never benefit the League. But that’s something that is accepted without any place for objection.

Bray Wanderers striker Conor Murphy was the sole member of Paul Doolin’s U19 squad that travelled to Romania from the Airtricity League. The new Under-19 League now has the chance to showcase the talented young players at the disposal of League of Ireland teams. Perform well and these players could soon be moved to their respective first team squads. The rest of the squad is made up of players from outside the country, a stat that will hopefully change in the future.

Recent Under-19 and Under-21 managers have chosen to ignore players plying their trade in the League of Ireland. The sad fact is that players now realise that international recognition is more than likely not going to happen while they play in Ireland. International bosses over the years have been on the end of some stick but Paul Doolin, a former manager in the League, and U21 manager Noel King have kept an eye on the domestic scene for players, and Conor Murphy has been given the chance.

The end result may still see our young stars leave Junior League clubs in Ireland to join cross-channel teams without ever gracing the Airtricity League, but the new Under-19 League now affords League of Ireland clubs the chance to first bring these younger players in to the clubs, and then progress them to the first teams.