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Ireland trials for Inishowen trio
08.01.09
Local players looking
to nail down places in Irish squads
by Simon McGeady, Inishowen
Independent
RYAN McLaughlin (Carndonagh) and Colm McLaughlin
(Buncrana Hearts) have an anxious wait to see if
they will be selected for the FAI U16 Development
squad after the pair attended trials in Dublin last week. Successful players will be notified in
writing before the 14th of January.
Meanwhile Moville Celtic’s Conor McLaughlin, who
turns 16 next week, has a trial today (Tuesday) for
the Irish U16 Emerging Talent squad.
Central defender Ryan, and left winger Colm were
among 40 boys from around the country selected to
attend trials at the AUL Complex in Dublin on the
30th of December and the 3rd of January.
This group of hopefuls will be trimmed down to a
panel of 18 that will travel to Belgium in February
for a friendly match with that country’s U16s
Development Squad. |
Should the boys make
it, it will be the first time Colm has represented
Ireland and the first time Ryan has played for his
country in an overseas match.
Ryan and Conor played the Irish U15 Development team
that reached the final of the Umbro Galway Cup last
year, while Colm, who will hope to follow in the
footsteps of Hears club mate Johnny Bonner, has been
a regular for the Ulster Schoolboys side in recent
times.
Speaking to the Inishowen Independent on Monday,
Buncrana Hearts coach Gary Duffy said 15 year old
Colm McLaughlin |
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was an exciting talent.
“It seems like Colm has been with the club he was a
baby. He started playing for us at U10 level. His
father, Gerry played in a league winning Hearts side
fifteen years ago. It’s only a matter of time before
Colm makes his debut in the senior team,” said
Duffy.
The players have been working under the FAI coaches
at the regional centre and these matches are a
regular part of the calendar of activities designed
to help their development.
U16 Development team coach Vincent Butler said there
was no need for those not selected to feel
down-at-heart.
“We want to avoid having those youngsters who do not
make the squad now feel they are being overlooked.
The danger is they might lose the incentive to go on
and take it as seriously as they might. In a couple
of years time they will be big, strong lads and the
reality is that some of them will be better than the
lads who are at the top now.” |
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