2024 Pre-Season Competitions and Friendlies

[WexCar.]

Rovers team v longford tonight is 100% last year's under 19s. No first team players even on the bench.

Speaking of SR u19's. Any insight on Carl Lennox and Cian Curtis? Both have signed for Wexford this coming season

[pineapple stu]

Pats playing a mixed team tonight. We have several young players but also a few first team players aswell.
Edit: The game v Usher finished 3-3. Our scorers were Forester , Cian Kavanagh & Mason Melia.

Four penalties sounds like an entertaining game!

[2 Year Contract]

Four penalties sounds like an entertaining game!

Some of them were pretty dubious but yeah bit of a mad game. Pats defence was 3 under 19s lads and Alfie Taylor who was playing his first senior game of his career and the lack of experience in that back line showed at times with some clumsy challenges. Mason Melia seems to have bulked up/grown taller over the last few months, it’s mad to think he’s 16 years old looking at him.

On a side note, the astro at Grangegorman is a class little set up, you can watch from a height above the pitch on one side with a barrier to lean on. One side also has 3 large steps so people can watch games from different vantage points without having to stand behind someone on the same level as you. Decent crowd at the game too id say around 3 or 4 hundred. It rivalled Bray for coldness tonight though!

[Martinho II]

Our preseason game against Sligo was called off earlier today. I saw pictures of the pitch earlier. It looked very waterlogged.

[2 Year Contract]

Just back from Pats 1-1 Bohs at Abbotstown. Pats played a 5-3-2 formation with last seasons Waterford captain Giles Phillips playing left centre back and another unknown right centre back beside Keeley. I didn’t recognise him from last seasons u19s so I assume he could be a trialist

[Jack B]

Just back from Pats 1-1 Bohs at Abbotstown. Pats played a 5-3-2 formation with last seasons Waterford captain Giles Phillips playing left centre back and another unknown right centre back beside Keeley. I didn’t recognise him from last seasons u19s so I assume he could be a trialist

That's an interesting one. Felt like centre back was one of the positions we'd filled for the season but I suppose that largely depends on when Grivosti returns. More than anything I'd still like another quality midfielder.

[kksaints]

Just back from Pats 1-1 Bohs at Abbotstown. Pats played a 5-3-2 formation with last seasons Waterford captain Giles Phillips playing left centre back and another unknown right centre back beside Keeley. I didn’t recognise him from last seasons u19s so I assume he could be a trialist

Wasn't Alfie Taylor by any chance? The lad we have on loan from Hull.

[2 Year Contract]

Wasn't Alfie Taylor by any chance? The lad we have on loan from Hull.

I was thinking that initially but he defo looked different to Alfie

[SPXcyan]

For whatever reason Long just didn't fancy Giles Phillips, he was handily our best player during the play-off against Cork.

[Fermoy Blue]

Funny one this! Long didn’t fancy Wassim either who absolutely schooled Radkowski in Cup semi buying 2 yellows off him meanwhile Giles was immense in playoffs, scoring winner v Cobh and taking City’s only attacking threat out of the final game. Now Long has signed Radkowski and Phillips is lining out with Ruari. Waterford’s other preferred CB at the moment seems to be Darragh Leahy who can’t be anymore than 5’7’’ - maybe Keith thinks he’s Carnavaro…I wouldn’t be so sure….

[RealJohn91]

Long has his quirks and randomly falling out with players is definitely one of them. Not using subs properly is another but we'll see if that's still one this season.

[2 Year Contract]

Aside from Phillips, the other Pats Trialist today is a lad called Niall Brookwell who started out with Liverpool before going to Newcastle where he was released last summer. Report on the match below, which also mentions the players Bohs are in for

https://www.thesun.ie/sport/12069439/bohemians-estonian-signings-goalkeeper-lukka-miller/

[Shearer]

Funny one this! Long didn’t fancy Wassim either who absolutely schooled Radkowski in Cup semi buying 2 yellows off him meanwhile Giles was immense in playoffs, scoring winner v Cobh and taking City’s only attacking threat out of the final game. Now Long has signed Radkowski and Phillips is lining out with Ruari. Waterford’s other preferred CB at the moment seems to be Darragh Leahy who can’t be anymore than 5’7’’ - maybe Keith thinks he’s Carnavaro…I wouldn’t be so sure….
Not to forget Ryan Graydon and Jack Moylan.

[joey B]

Derry 2-0 Harps .

[RealJohn91]

Derry 2-0 Harps .
Playing the same team twice in pre-season is a new one for me

[joey B]

Playing the same team twice in pre-season is a new one for me

We don’t all have teams 10 minutes down the road!!

[D24Saint]

Pats 2-1 Drogheda, Tommy Lonegran with both for us.

[2 Year Contract]

Pats 2-1 Drogheda, Tommy Lonegran with both for us.

Arran Pettifer on trial for pats. Centre mid that’s on the books at Bolton, presumably taking a look at him for a loan move. Drogheda had 2 Trialists also, Dave Webster and a winger

[kksaints]

Was at Evergreen vs Bray Wanderers in the Leinster Senior Cup this evening. Finished 0-0. Was a reasonable match for the time of season. Bray were in control for most of the match and created enough chances to win the match in the 2nd half. Omorehiomwan (who was fairly good for most of the match) had an open goal after the keeper spilled a free kick but he drove it well over. Bray looked a little lightweight in attack and Maguerson had a poor game.

[nigel-harps1954]

Playing the same team twice in pre-season is a new one for me

Harps and Derry play twice most years in preseason.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Rovers won 1-0 against Galway in Westport today. Waveru with the goal. McGinty saved a penalty.

[Another Bohemia]

Long has his quirks and randomly falling out with players is definitely one of them. Not using subs properly is another but we'll see if that's still one this season.

He also has firm favourites who won't be dropped in spite of their form. I suppose that's something a lot of managers have but it was especially bad with Long

[joey B]

Shelbourne 2:1 Waterford
Shamrock Rovers 2:1 Longford Town
Sligo Rovers 1:0 Galway United
Shamrock Rovers 5:1 Wexford

[Dermobohs]

Bohs to play rangers b in Glasgow tomorrow. Also playing a Celtic selection while over.

[Shearer]

Treaty take on Midleton in the last 8 of the Munster Senior Cup on Friday.

Midleton, like seemingly every MSL team, have a smattering of ex League of Ireland players including Jake Hegarty and John Kavanagh.

[RealJohn91]

The Bohs u20s beat Malahide 1-0 in the LSC tonight. Is the u19 league getting a rebrand this year? A u20 version would make more sense when it comes to player development and pathways to the first team.

[2 Year Contract]

The Bohs u20s beat Malahide 1-0 in the LSC tonight. Is the u19 league getting a rebrand this year? A u20 version would make more sense when it comes to player development and pathways to the first team.
Yeah the 19s league is being changed to an U20s league from this year on

[Another Bohemia]

Yeah the 19s league is being changed to an U20s league from this year on
I thought the underage structure (i.e. u15, u17, u19) was brought in because of UEFA structures because isn't the UEFA Youth Champions League u19's? How will that work now I wonder?

Looking at Bohs u20's this year they defo need another year of football under their belts before they are ready for the first team so from that perspective it's good to see

[Buckett]

U17 LOI winners will compete in the following seasons UEFA Youth League afaik

[pineapple stu]

Correct - UCD in this case.

Point being I think that the league winners are typically overage by the time the Youth League rolls around, which seemed a bit harsh.

[nigel-harps1954]

IMO the 14s league should have been scrapped and 21s or 23s introduced above the 19s as a de facto reserve league.

[oriel]

No club going away for warm weather climate pre-season this year?

Dundalk were in La Manga this day 5 years ago in prep for the last league title win of 2019, from the starting xi that played LASK only Benson is left!

Rogers, Gannon, Gartland, Hoare, Massey, Shields, Benson, McEleney, Duffy, Kelly, Hoban.

[pineapple stu]

IMO the 14s league should have been scrapped and 21s or 23s introduced above the 19s as a de facto reserve league.
You can't scrap the U14s league - it's a UEFA requirement afaik

[D24Saint]

IMO the 14s league should have been scrapped and 21s or 23s introduced above the 19s as a de facto reserve league.

I’d like to hear the opinion of people involved. Is it too young for LOI or is it the right age to introduce young lads to the standards required to move up the ladder and improve their game. I’d imagine all the extra under age teams is a financial burden to certain clubs.

[nigel-harps1954]

No club going away for warm weather climate pre-season this year?

Finn Harps are going for a warm weather training camp this weekend coming in Arranmore Island.

[LTFC]

I'm sure for smaller clubs it is cashflow burden, but the whole academy set up is vital. In our case some of the very best still get snapped up by bigger clubs, Ogbonna brothers with Rovers for example, both underage internationals, but equally more lads coming through to first team squad from academy - not necessarily born in Longford, but played underage.

In a rural county, many of the best soccer prospects are also on GAA county squads, and while at u14 soccer can compete, keeping them at LOI level is difficult as the years go up.

[sbgawa]

I’d like to hear the opinion of people involved. Is it too young for LOI or is it the right age to introduce young lads to the standards required to move up the ladder and improve their game. I’d imagine all the extra under age teams is a financial burden to certain clubs.

I'm not personally involved but i know plenty of the rovers underage coaches.
Rovers have which a lot of people arent aware a full DDSL set up going down to under 8's (as well as a younger section for really young kids) we have the kids already by the time the LOI requirement at under 14s comes around. the standard of coaching in DDSL 12s and 13s doesnt bring kids along except at a few clubs. U14 is actually late to be getting them in. We have had players join us from clubs where they were exceptional but were being coached by Parenst who were just helping out effectivly with no real coaching badges bar the minimum.

IMO we currently have u 14 u15 u 17 and u20.
I would drop the under 20 when the third tier comes in and allow teams use the 18 year olds and upwards play there and add an under 16s as currently its a mess when the under 15s kids finish in Oct/Nov and are not being kept on for 17s they have to try to find a DDSL club mid season play there for a year at U16 and potentially leave to go back to LOI at under 17 a year later.

[culloty82]

The U20 question may be more of an issue for larger clubs, but since such players don't count towards senior squad numbers, then Kerry can generally give the most promising 3-4 in that grouping each season some degree of First Division match-day experience, all the while concentrating on their underage development - a reserve league might suit the Dublin clubs, Derry and Cork well for instance, but should be strictly optional.

[Jd2793]

no use with a 23s or even 21s league here IMO. i'll be watching on to see what coaches make of that extra year they are giving players at u20. while every player develops at their own pace, i personally think if you arent knocking at the loi door at 20/21 youre better off dropping the divisions. either get yourself playing fd football if youre coming from PD or else go into msl/lsl/junior leagues where possible.

[Jd2793]

The U20 question may be more of an issue for larger clubs, but since such players don't count towards senior squad numbers, then Kerry can generally give the most promising 3-4 in that grouping each season some degree of First Division match-day experience, all the while concentrating on their underage development - a reserve league might suit the Dublin clubs, Derry and Cork well for instance, but should be strictly optional.

would prefer there to be a cork city or cobh "msl" team. hate the idea of reserve leagues tbh. lsl/msl can be very competitive players learn more vs adults.

[culloty82]

For the benefit of any Cobh fans travelling to the MSC game today week, Kerry have announced that all tickets will be sold on the gate that day.

[D24Saint]

Seen a few people moaning online about St Mochtas charging a tenner in on Saturday. I don’t understand it tbh , a tenner isn’t a lot in this day and age. Even LSL teams have overheads.

[Dermobohs]

Rangers B 2-2 Bohs today. Late gers penalty apparently, lol

[EatYerGreens]

Rangers B 2-2 Bohs today. Late gers penalty apparently, lol

Who won the riot?

[Dermobohs]

Ha! Remember it well. Great nights entertainment altogether.

[Nesta99]

I’d like to hear the opinion of people involved. Is it too young for LOI or is it the right age to introduce young lads to the standards required to move up the ladder and improve their game. I’d imagine all the extra under age teams is a financial burden to certain clubs.

DoB/age is too arbitrary in and around that age group LoI or local leagues. Size/weight/height/level of emotional maturity etc would be a better guage. Im sure UEFA could develop such guidelines. Would help with the attrition of smaller players that would kick on, or coaches being tempted to play the man child types to physically dominate at the expense of technical development. Imo it could also be relevant to protecting players eg with heading the ball while not totally eliminating the skill until X developmental stage rather than an age is reached before being introduced properly. I am assuming that heading in games and training drills are limited if allowed at all for young cohorts, for schoolgirls there should be different guidelines with later introduction. If Lionel Messi had been been through the English style youth systems he'd have been looked at walking in at 14 and released before before kicking a ball, a different ethos of player development maybe than player development or safety stuff.

[EatYerGreens]

Finn Harps are going for a warm weather training camp this weekend coming in Arranmore Island.

I live in hope that some day Arranmore will get a home draw against an LOI club in an FAI Cup fixture. Highly unlikely to happen, but would be a thing of beauty to witness.

[nigel-harps1954]

I live in hope that some day Arranmore will get a home draw against an LOI club in an FAI Cup fixture. Highly unlikely to happen, but would be a thing of beauty to witness.

I don't think they even enter the FAI Junior Cup anymore. Only a handful of Donegal League teams bother with it and the league actually advises against teams entering because it screws up the league schedules.

[redarmyfaction]

Sligo Rovers beat Ballinamallard 4-1 yesterday.

[culloty82]

The first three MSC QFs see Waterford defeat Wilton 2-0, Treaty thump Midleton 7-0, and Rockmount overcome Ringmahon 3-1.