FA Youth Cup Final

[tetsujin1979]

from today's Independent:

YOUTHS IN FOCUS
AN aggregate crowd of over 100,000 will witness the two-legged FA Youth Cup final between holders Liverpool and Manchester United, both games will be televised live by Sky Sports, and up to six Irish lads could be involved at some stage.

Midfielder Jimmy Ryan, who has a winner's medal from last year, is a certain starter for Liverpool, as is centre-forward Christy Fagan and centre-back and skipper Craig Cathcart for Manchester United, but after that results and injuries could have a bearing on how many other Irish lads participate in games that are likely to attract over 40,000 to Anfield tomorrow and over 50,000 to Old Trafford on Thursday week.

Midfielder Michael Collins and centre-back Laurence Gaughan were involved in earlier rounds for Liverpool, but involvement with the Irish U17s in Germany and a club tour meant that they missed out on the semi-final wins over Newcastle United, so coach Steve Heighway may decide to leave things as they are. Left-winger Shane O'Connor is another Irish lad on the fringe of selection.

Former Home Farm lad Fagan and Belfast-born Cathcart will start for the Red Devils, but midfielder Conor McCormack may miss out as the Dundalk lad was also away on Irish duty.

With a lot of talk that Heighway is to retire at the end of the season, Liverpool will be hoping to present him with the perfect going away present. The Youth Cup is his baby. He relinquishes control for the league games, but assumes boss-man status for the Cup. By all accounts, he is an excellent coach who will be hard to replace.


COLLINS DYNASTY
LIVERPOOL'S Michael Collins is the third generation of his family, all named Michael, to make their mark in football. Michael's father played for St Patrick's Athletic in the 1970s and was lined up to sign for Derby County with Barry Murphy until Tommy Docherty's appointment put a halt to the move. Grandfather Michael was on the Transport team which won the FAI Cup in 1951 after a marathon three-match final against Cork Athletic.

Young Michael's uncles were also prominent footballers. David was captain of Liverpool youths and reserves, while Eamonn played for Blackpool and Portsmouth and was captain of the legendary Touhy's Tots in the 1980s.

And there is another young Collins to note: Joseph, son of Eamonn, is a left-sided midfielder who has just graduated to the professional ranks with Portsmouth.

[SkStu]

i may be wrong but i think that Cathcart was on the bench for Utd first team yesterday. An unused substitute.

edit: hes represented nornirn

[elroy]

i may be wrong but i think that Cathcart was on the bench for Utd first team yesterday. An unused substitute.

edit: hes represented nornirn


Ya he was, i understand he has declared for the north?

[EalingGreen]

Ya he was, i understand he has declared for the north?

From what I gather, Cathcart won't have felt any need to "declare" allegiance to either team i.e. ROI was never likely to be an option in his case!

He does appear to be one of the leading lights in MU's Youth Team (I think he's Captain), and he has now been on the bench for three or four of MU's recent matches (including Europe). And whilst that is primarily a reflection of MU being down to the "bare bones" (i.e. Ferguson didn't bring him on for a few minutes experience, even when the game was won), it still augurs well.

Interestingly, FIFA staged a couple of U-19 matches between a European and an African select a few weeks back. Cathcart was the only player from any of the five "home" countries to make the European team. Obviously playing for MU will have been a big help in bringing him to the attention of the selectors and I imagine they like to draw the squad from a wide geographical spread of countries. Nonetheless, it was quite an honour for the kid:
http://www.uefa.com/competitions/meridian/fixturesresults/round=15081/match=300167/report=rp.html
http://www.uefa.com/competitions/meridian/fixturesresults/round=15081/match=300168/report=rp.html

[NeilMcD]

Manchester United have the upper hand and a 2-1 lead over Liverpool after winning the first leg of the FA Youth Cup final at Anfield.

Cup holders Liverpool led at half-time through Craig Lindfield's 16th-minte header from Ray Putterill's cross.

But after the restart United drew level when Robbie Threlfall headed Daniel Galbraith's cross into his own net.

On 73 minutes they went ahead when Jay Spearing brought down Febian Brandy and Sam Hewson netted the penalty.

Both club's first team managers Rafael Benitez and Sir Alex Ferguson were in a crowd of 19,158, along with Liverpool first-team players including Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Jose Reina and Xabi Alonso.

Liverpool hope to become only the fifth club to retain the trophy, while United are aiming for a record 10th success when the second leg takes place at Old Trafford on 26 April.

[tetsujin1979]

Liverpool won 1-0 last night to send the Final to extra time an penalties, Liverpool winning 4-3 on spot kicks
James Ryan played for Liverpool, with Christy Fagan playing for United, and Connor McCormack was an unused substitute.
Ryan was substituted early in extra time, and Fagan scored his penalty in the shoot out
Liverpool review: http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N155740070426-2237.htm
Man United review: http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={B4CEE8FA-9A47-47BC-B069-3F7A2F35DB70}&newsid=422709

[eirebhoy]

I had one eye on the match. Ryan played right wing and sent in one superb cross in the first half that really should have lead to a goal. It was obvious that Ryan wasn't a right winger anyway but looks technically good. Fagan looked confident on the ball and got into good positions but the next 2 most advanced teammates were all tricks and no brains and wouldn't get the ball to him when he was in the positions. I don't know how many times Fagan threw his arms from his sides in frustration at a stupid decision from a teammate.

I couldn't really judge either player but the tall Swedish holding midfielder off Liverpool looked class.

[youngirish]

I watched most of the match but couldn't identify the Irish players (there was no names on the backs of the jerseys and no commentary in the pub). Anyway number 10 for united looked class. One of the most impressive players on the pitch. Very skillful and composed with the ball though he wasn't given the ball as much as he should have been. Was this Fagan? He had short dark hair.

[eirebhoy]

I watched most of the match but couldn't identify the Irish players (there was no names on the backs of the jerseys and no commentary in the pub). Anyway number 10 for united looked class. One of the most impressive players on the pitch.Very skillful and composed with the ball though he wasn't given the ball as much as he should have been. Was this Fagan? He had short dark hair.
Yeah that's Fagan. Good to see he impressed as I was working on the laptop while the match was on so couldn't really watch it properly.

[Erstwhile Bóz]

Liverpool review: http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N155740070426-2237.htm

How ironic the goal came on 55 minutes, that being the exact number of times the Old Trafford stadium announcer had reminded us we were in the 'Theatre of Dreams'.
:D

Saw most of both matches. I thought Putterill looked very good for Liverpool, if he's the skinheady plump chap I'm thinking of.

[Collyontour]

aw both games. Ryan was very impressive. Strong, worked like an ox and great crosser of the ball. Fagan played well last night as well.