The Clare Schoolboys/Girls Soccer League will this weekend once again host its annual CSSL Pre Kennedy Cup Preparation event.
The event which is now in its 10th year will see 18 Kennedy Cup Squads visit Co Clare on Saturday May 6th and Sunday May 7th. The series of Games will take place at Venues across Clare with the opening games kicking off from 12 noon on Saturday.
Newmarket Celtic’s McDonagh Park will play host to Athlone, Carlow and Drogheda Leagues, the impressive facilities at Tulla Utd will host Clare, Sligo/Leitrim, Limerick District Schoolboys League and Limerick Desmond League.
In Ennis, Cassidy Park the home of Lifford AFC will host North Tipperary, Roscommon and West Cork, while the fourth venue on Saturday will see the North Clare Amenity Park in Lisdoonvarna play host to Kerry, Galway and the Midlands League. On Sunday, Tulla Utd and Newmarket Celtic’s McDonagh Park will play host to a series of games from 10am to 4pm.
The event has grown significantly in recent years, and this is due to the important role and benefit that the event plays as the respective Kennedy Cup Squads fine tune their preparations for the upcoming SFAI Kennedy Cup on June 12th – 16th at University of Limerick. The player development aspect of the event, ensures that all players play over the series of games, and also gives coaches and squads the experience of planning for and dealing with the demands similar to that of the Kennedy Cup proper.
FAI County Development Officer Denis Hynes said: “The Clare Schoolboys/Girls Soccer League Pre Kennedy Cup Preparation 2017 will see 18 League Squads, 360 players, 70 FAI Emerging Talent Programme Coaches and 100’s of Spectators and family members visit Co Clare and watch some of the future stars of Irish Football.
The event now has a central place in the calendar of U14 Youth Football in Ireland, as Leagues clearly see the benefits to be gained by participating in the event in advance of the SFAI Kennedy Cup,” she said.
“Credit is due to the Clare Schoolboys/Girls Soccer League for supporting the event year on year, and also to the respective Leagues for attending every year and obviously the event cannot be held without the excellent facilities that are provided by the Clare Clubs. One of the pluses of the CSSL Pre Kennedy Cup Preparation event, is the very attractive packages that the relevant accommodation providers offer each League that participate,” Ms Hynes added.