2013 Squad
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Craig Hyland DOB: 08/09/1990 Sponsored by: The Tower Hotel
Dublin-born, Naas-based Craig Hyland signed in February this year, and immediately established himself in the number 1 jersey, a position he will have to battle hard to keep hold of as the season progresses, under pressure from Robbie Hughes and Chip Sanders. The highly-rated 22-year-old had an outstanding season between the sticks for Longford Town last year, making 26 League appearances, with eight clean sheets in all. Craig actually signed for Crusaders in January, but with travel turning out to be an insurmountable obstacle, his contract was cancelled by mutual agreement. |
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Robbie Hughes DOB: 17/01/1992 Sponsored by: Tom Murphy Car Sales
Another highly-rated young ‘keeper, Robbie Hughes signed in January 2012 from Shamrock Rovers, where he lined out for their U20 and ‘A’ Championship sides in successive seasons. The Kildare native saw precious few chances to break into the first team last season, with the superb form of Packie Holden all year, but he will be pushing hard again this season to make the Blues’ number one jersey his own. |
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Chip Sanders Sponsored by: DVF Print & Graphic Solutions
Imposing netminder Chip Sanders arrived from North Carolina’s Davidson College on the recommendation of former Blues keeper Giles Cheevers (himself now based in Tennessee), and continues a developing tradition of Americans between the sticks at the RSC. An athletic and agile shot stopper, and a commanding figure at the back, Chip’s impressive college career finished with nine clean sheets in 20 games in his final season, helping him to the second best all-time goals against figures for Davidson. |
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Seamus Long Sponsored by: Macron
Now the longest continuously-serving member of the Blues squad, Seamus signed from Douglas Hall in January 2009, after two outstanding seasons in the Munster Senior League. The versatile defender, at home in the centre, right or left back, is also comfortable in midfield, where he has lined out on many occasions for the Blues. His strong and solid presence at centre back or defensive mid will play a key part in the United defence again this year. |
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David Breen
DOB: 04/04/1979 Sponsored by: Uluru Bar
Veteran defender David re-signed in 2011 for his third spell with the club. Beginning his league career at Kilkenny City under Alfie Hale, he initially spent six years at United from 1999 to 2005, then a spell at Cobh Ramblers, before being brought back to the RSC by Gareth Cronin. In 2009 he moved to Wexford Youths, and played the following year in the blue and black of Athlone Town. Very popular with the Blues faithful, David brings organization, defensive nous and vast experience to the squad. He has won the First Division title with both Waterford and Kilkenny. |
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Gavin Kavanagh DOB: 02/11/1987 Sponsored by: Sully’s Snooker Club
A versatile and commanding central defender, who is also comfortable in either full back position, Dublin-born Gavin began his career with Crumlin United before joining English side Nottingham Forest. Following his spell cross-channel, Gavin returned to Crumlin in 2009 and then signed for Cork in the summer of 2010, quickly becoming a key figure for the Leesiders, making 25 league starts in their promotion-winning season in 2011, and continuing to play a key role in the Premier Division last year, with 20 league appearances, scoring twice. |
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John Frost Sponsored by: McDonalds Restaurant
‘Frostie’ spent the first eight years of his career at the RSC, and returned last season after a six-and-a-half year absence. He joined St Patrick’s Athletic from United in the summer of 2005 for a successful three year spell which included an FAI Cup final appearance, and bettered that with Sporting Fingal, winning the Cup and gaining promotion in 2009. The 32-year-old brings a wealth of League experience to the young squad, complementing an all-action style and a never-say-die attitude. |
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Dylan Mernagh DOB: 01/07/1991 Sponsored by: Clem Jacob Hire
Versatile defender Dylan signed at the beginning of 2012, having impressed with the Wexford Oscar Traynor side who he helped to reach a semi-final clash with the AUL. Though Australian by birth, Dylan is very much a local lad, having played for many years with Villa FC’s underage sides. Grew into League of Ireland football with some assurance last season, first at left back, more latterly on the right, a position to which he looks to have made a serious claim this year. |
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Michael Coady Sponsored by: Gregory’s Clothes For Men
Michael returns for his second spell at the RSC after spending a year with former club Carrick United. First signed in the summer of 2010 after helping Carrick to a League and Munster Junior Cup double, the Tipperary native took to League of Ireland football like a duck to water, and quickly established himself as a fans’ favourite in the left back position. Tough-tackling and attack-minded, Michael is equally as adept on the left side of midfield, and is relishing his return to the Airtricity League, where he will be looking to quickly re-establish himself as a regular in the side. |
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Jamie Cross Sponsored by: Robert Thompson Funeral Directors
Jamie is one of a growing number of the Blues Under 19 side to make the step up to senior level, making his debut last season in the MSC win over Castleview. Finishing the season with half a dozen appearances under his belt, he has already seen MSC action again early this year. Full of running, quick to get forward, and with an impressive maturity beyond his years, Jamie is definitely one to watch for the future. |
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Aidan McGrath
DOB: 27/09/1993 Sponsored by: Perennial Freight
Still only 19, Aidan had been a regular star for the underage sides for two seasons, before graduating permanently to the senior set-up last year, during which he made over a dozen appearances. Versatile enough to slot into a number of positions, from up front to wide midfield and more recently as a more than capable full back, whether in defence or midfield the right side of the pitch is his preferred area of deployment, from where he can contribute very effectively to the Blues attack. |
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Peter White
DOB: 03/08/1986 Sponsored by: City Enterprise Centre
Peter began his career with his home club Carrick United and Kilkenny City before joining Limerick in 2006, remaining with the Shannonsiders until the end of 2011, apart from a hiatus in 2009 when he lined out for Wexford Youths. Strong in the tackle, good in the air, and with a great engine, the versatile Tipperary man made an early switch from the back line into the heart of the Blues midfield last season, where he forged a hugely effective partnership with Gary Dempsey, and scored a number of key goals. |
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Francis Rockett DOB: 25/09/1985 Sponsored by: Glenpatrick Spring Water
Franny Rockett is another returnee to the RSC, having first joined from Tramore in the summer of 2002, spending three seasons with the Blues before joining Cobh for the 2005 campaign, initially on loan. ’Rocky’ was at St Coleman’s for two years, moved to Kilkenny City in 2007 for their final season, then returned to Tramore, winning Premier League titles in 2009 and 2012. A great reader of the game, he has the full range of passes as well as an eye for goal. In 2004 he captained the Ireland Schools to victory in the Centenary Shield, beating Northern Ireland 2-1 in the decider. |
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Peter Higgins DOB: 04/05/1987 Sponsored by: Fresh Food Hall
25-year-old Peter, an attack-minded midfield player, joined in January 2012. A tough-tackling, all-action player, he starred for Tramore AFC in their Munster Youth Cup victory in 2006, before heading to Drury University in the US. In his four years there he won an Inter-Collegiate championship, and any number of Collegiate representative honours, before returning home to his native Kilkenny, and signing for the Blues! |
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Conor Coad DOB: 06/02/1994 Sponsored by: Morris’s Builders Providers
Conor is another of the many Under 19 players to be brought into the senior set-up over the past two seasons, again making a dozen or so appearances last year, and scoring twice away to Athlone in the last regular season game. A gifted midfielder, with a sublime set of skills and the ability to run a game from the middle of of the park, Conor can also line out up front or out wide. Very much one to watch over the coming months! |
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Kevin O’Connor DOB: 07/05/1995 Sponsored by: Comeragh Coaches
An immensely promising central midfielder, Kevin joined the Blues U19s for the 2012/13 season, but by January this year was swiftly added to the senior panel as well, and made his League of Ireland debut as a sub for Peter Higgins in the first game of the season at home to Finn Harps. Kevin has played for Ireland’s Under 17s (the only home-based player in the squad), and in Paul Doolin’s U18 domestic squad, and represents the Blues in the 2013 Centenary Shield alongside Jack Doherty and Patrick Fitzgerald. |
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Ben Ryan DOB: 19/01/1991 Sponsored by: Paul O’Neill Construction
23-year-old attacking midfielder Ben Ryan returned to the Blues (where he starred in the short-lived Under-20 set-up) in 2012 after a couple of years at Wexford Youths. The Kilkenny native had a very good final season with our closest neighbours, including scoring a stunning free kick against the Blues to take all three points at the RSC, and he continued that form into last year, making almost 30 appearances, and scoring five times from the right side of midfield. |
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Jack Doherty Sponsored by: Suirdzign
Jack was promoted to the seniors by manager Paul O’Brien at the end of August 2011, after a string of exceptional performances with the Under 19s. A Clonmel native, the midfielder showed no signs of being overawed by the step-up, making his debut away to Limerick in the last match, and adding 13 appearances last season, scoring twice, all while continuing to perform outstandingly for the young Blues. A tricky, superbly skillful left winger in the old style, Jack has established himself as a real fans’ favourite. He is currently starring for the Ireland Schools in the 2013 Centenary Shield. |
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Padraic Quinn Sponsored by: McLeary’s Restaurant
Paudie had a very successful early career with Listowel Celtic, and having been capped up to U18 for Ireland he attracted attention from cross channel. He moved to Fulham, and was part of their successful FA Youth Cup campaign under Roy Hodgson in 2010. Returning home first to Tralee Dynamos, he then joined Limerick in 2011 and soon became a key player, making 28 appearances and scoring nine times, but found his place harder to hold down last year. Paudie’s attacking attributes and spectacular striking ability from distance will be a feature of this current season! |
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Paul Quilty DOB: 02/09/1982 Sponsored by: Lucozade Sport
Over the past number of years Paul forged a reputation as one of the most feared, and most prolific, strikers in the Junior League with Waterford Crystal and more recently Tramore AFC, and he won the golden boot with the city side in 2011, and the Premier Division with the Seasiders last season. Effective whether deployed up front or wide in midfield, ‘Cogs’ has the ability to score from anywhere, whether finishing from close range, or dropping deep to pick up the ball and fashion his own chances from distance. |
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Vinny Sullivan DOB: 19/04/1981 Sponsored by: Audi Waterford
Starting off at Dungarvan United, Vinny moved to Scotland in 1998, spending three seasons at Celtic before decamping to Livingston in 2001. Returning home in 2002, he helped the Blues to the First Division title in 2003 and the FAI Cup final in ’04 in his first spell at the RSC. 2006 saw him move to Cork City for a season, but he returned to Suirside for a second and third stay, punctuated by six months of Gaelic Football with Dungarvan. A two-year second spell at Cork brought another Division One medal, and 17 league goals in 57 games, but he is now back home for a fourth time, where his goalscoring talents, and his astonishing work ethic, will be invaluable this year. |
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Daragh Walshe DOB: 20/08/1991 Sponsored by: Waterford City Council
The 21-year-old began his League career with FC Carlow, at Under-20 and in the ‘A’ Championship, made his senior bow with Wexford Youths, and joined the Blues for the 2012 season. But with the campaign hardly underway illness struck to put him out for much of the year, though he recovered to return for the run-in. Adding power and height to the Blues front line, allied to no little skill with the ball at his feet, he has shown his ability to find the net in each side he has played for. He has represented Ireland at Under-18 Schools, featuring in the 2010 Centenerary Shield winning squad, and scoring against Cyprus and Australia. |
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Peter Keegan DOB: 03/08/1988 Sponsored by: Great Stuff Catering
Dubliner Peter played at schoolboy level for Belvedere FC. Then, like Peter Higgins, he moved to US College football, for Genesee Community College in New York, captaining them to the final of a National Junior College Athletic Association tournament, and making the All-American team of the year. Primarily an influential midfielder with an eye for the back of the net, he revelled in a conversion to centre forward last season, forming a very effective foil for Sean Maguire, and notching four times himself, before a serious knee injury sustained in Oriel Park put him out for months. Expected to return to full fitness before the middle of the season. |
