U17's qualify for the European Championships!

[paul_oshea]

is he anything to Eamon gufct?!

[eirebhoy]

but my player of the tournament was Blackburn Rovers winger Aidan Doran an absolute class act the new Duffer.
1.50 minutes is a cracker he scored against Pats a few weeks ago in a friendly:

qNkf6GP9bII

[tetsujin1979]

McCaffrey on UEFA.com: http://www.uefa.com/competitions/under17/news/kind=1/newsid=674049.html?cid=rssfeed&att=index
Anyone catch his interview on NewsTalk last night? Only heard the very end of it driving home

[Donegalcelt]

no, but i don't think that RTE sports bird Eiblin ni whatyamacaller even knew the significance of it on News2top story was aberdeen beating celtic

[jbyrne]

no, but i don't think that RTE sports bird Eiblin ni whatyamacaller even knew the significance of it on News2top story was aberdeen beating celtic

if its not horseracing, the premier lge or a bust up in an under 14s junior hurling match in offaly rte arent interested!

[geysir]

McCaffrey on UEFA.com: http://www.uefa.com/competitions/under17/news/kind=1/newsid=674049.html?cid=rssfeed&att=index
Anyone catch his interview on NewsTalk last night? Only heard the very end of it driving home
He is a laid back guy, sounds like he is from Monaghan.
I only half heard it as I was trying to have an argument at the same time.
He said that we play better against the more skilfull teams, that we are at a disadvantage physically with the size of our players :(
That was referring to our good performance against the Portugese.

He was asked about the standard of technique /training about the one or two lads from Germany as in what´s the difference between what we do and what they do in Germany.
I didn´t get that answer. I think he compared a few aspects about their technique etc.
It would be worth downl. the podcast

[eirebhoy]

“Seven of our 18-man squad, as well as Richie Towell who had to withdraw because of injury, have played for Crumlin United during their career so far. That is a marvelous feat for the Dublin club, who were also responsible for nurturing Robbie Keane, and they can feel proud of their contribution towards this qualification.”

[Wangball]

7 out of 18??? Thats some achievement and says a lot for the set up they have out their in Crumlin

I didn't get to see any of the games but do any of the lads who did think we'll be talking about any of these players in 6/7 years time as full internationals?

[Torn-Ado]

no, but i don't think that RTE sports bird Eiblin ni whatyamacaller even knew the significance of it on News2top story was aberdeen beating celtic

Rte.ie didn't get the story until the day after so I presume they didn't know.

By the way, is it only Ireland and Holland through so far? And probably the Scots?

[harps1954]

The lad who captained the side - Johnny Dunleavy - is from Ballybofey. He is in his first season at Wolverhampton Wanderers and is tipped to make the grade. Previously with Ballybofey United and Drumkeen United. Has already played reserve football at Wolves.

There was an in-depth interview with him in the Donegal Democrat today. Don't know if it is online at the minute, but if so you can get it on www.donegaldemocrat.com

[Donegalcelt]

Sport
Johnny’s Turkish Delight


Johnny Dunleavy captained the heroic Republic of Ireland Under-17 side that dramatically qualified for the European Championships on Tuesday. He spoke to Alan Foley before and after that memorable game.

Moments after Armenian referee Arman Amirkhanyan blasted the final whistle at Terryland Park last Thursday to conclude the Republic of Ireland Under-17s' draw with Germany, home supporters trickled off into the different directions of the night satisfied with the goal apiece draw.

In front of Galway United's clubhouse, Brendan Dunleavy stood patiently in the chill. Under the glare of the floodlights that illuminated the dimly-lit Dyke Road, the Ballybofey native focused on the post-match events as attentively as the contest that had preceded it.

There, the Irish team warmed down, before they sportingly shared a reciprocal applause with the visiting Germans, who made their way to the dressing rooms after the opening fixture of the UEFA Under-17 Elite Group Stage.

Whilst the away players wandered toward the showers, the Irish youngsters, still decked in shorts, socks, and muddened at the knees, stopped and stooped over the advertising hoardings.

They exchanged hearty handshakes and hugs with family members and friends who travelled to the banks of the bellowing Corrib from all corners of the country to see their loved ones in green jerseys.

Dunleavy, a financial adviser by trade, is appreciated in Donegal having represented the senior county footballers in his own day. Now his son Johnny, a first year apprentice with Wolverhampton Wanderers, is undertaking a telling path of his own.

Sean McCafferty's team's draw against Germany provided Dunleavy and his teammates with a respectable start to the second phase on the road that meanders to May's European Championships in Turkey.

However, on Saturday at Athlone Town's Lissywollen Stadium, a surprise 2-1 defeat against Greece put Ireland on elimination's brink. It was a Greek tragedy. Before the final pool game against Portugal back in Galway, the mountain they faced was dauntingly steep.

With the gameplan now significantly altered, Ireland's teens sought a German victory over Greece in the midlands on closing night. At the same time, they required a win themselves against Portugal, at the very least, by a similar scoreline of two goals or more. Only that conundrum would enable Ireland to seize the singular place on offer.

All four teams would then finish level on four points. Goal difference would prove the only differential. Ireland's players, who gathered at the Clayton Hotel, then gazed through a cloudless Galway spring evening from the bus window dreaming of what might be. The margins were wafer-thin, their odds perhaps long, but an element of hope lingered in the air.

"We couldn't really believe that we lost the match against Greece," began Dunleavy. "It was one of them nights, we had so many chances, and we were absolutely devastated. We regrouped though and spoke about the Portugal match.

"We knew there was every chance that Germany would beat Greece. That was the only way they could stay in the competition. If they could, we knew what we had to do. At half-time, we were scoreless, and we knew that Germany were 1-0 up. Winning our own game was our priority."

In remarkable fashion, the events of the evening began to gradually unfold in front of disbelieving eyes. John Cunningham of Manchester City volleyed home through a crowded area to manufacture an Irish lead on 51 minutes. Then, six minutes later, Gavin Gunning rose highest to add a second. Turkey seemed so much closer.

Germany though, were two up themselves, and only nine Greeks remained on the field after two of their conscripts were sent off. A third German goal would eliminate Ireland. And like Ireland, it was backs to the wall stuff for Greece. In hindsight, perhaps it was easier for the brave Irish players to endure the torment of matters out of their control by focusing on their own immediate concerns.

"About two minutes from time, we were 2-0 up, and Sean McCafferty said that if we could hold out we would be on our way to the European Championships in Turkey," continued Dunleavy. "Portugal pushed on with their wingers and our 'keeper made a couple of great saves. Thank God we held out. It was brilliant at the final whistle. We're absolutely delighted. Unbelievable."

Liverpool, the team Dunleavy supports, have shown the way. Miracles, like theirs in Istanbul in 2005, are known to float amid the night air in the far off sultry land where west meets east.

A stylish central defender, one that appears to have both confidence and competence in equal measure on the football pitch, the 16-year-old is similarly impressive in his demeanour. Perhaps it's his family's influence or maybe it's because of his personal make-up, but Dunleavy has his feet rooted firmly rooted to the ground.

Formerly of the Uniteds of Ballybofey and Drumkeen, he has plenty on board and possesses a willingness to learn in what is one of the most rough and tumble businesses. He ticks all the right boxes in the ultra-competitive world that young aspiring professionals find themselves in.

A regular spectator at Finn Park, Dunleavy also wore the GAA colours of the MacCumhaill's club with distinction. He even became the youngest competition winner in the history of Ballybofey & Stranorlar Golf Club. Last July, after pondering a proposal that came from an envelope with a Wolverhampton postmark upon it, he left for pastures new.

"Things are going great and I'm really enjoying myself at Wolves," Dunleavy added. "I'm playing a bit for the reserves now alongside the likes of Gary Breen, Darron Gibson, Graham Stack and Kevin Kyle that used to play for Sunderland. It's a good standard.

"Lorcan Keeney from Letterkenny was over there a couple of years ago. Although I never got the chance to talk to him before I left, I've managed to track him down on the internet, on Bebo, and he's been wondering how I am getting on and I've kept in touch with him."

Over the road from Molineux, Dunleavy has another familiar face. Gavin Carlin, a goalkeeper from the Crossroads, shared the good luck messages as both he and his companion Dunleavy headed from the Finn Valley to the Black Country together.

Carlin is a West Bromwich Albion conscript and part of the Hawthorns' outfit's second string. In January at Compton Park, a 1-1 draw between the two sides in the Under-18s meant everyone could go happy.

"Some lads get really homesick but I can honesty say that I'm loving every single minute of it. I get to meet Gavin quite a bit and we head off shopping together. It's nice to have a friend so close.

"The family that I get digs with are great to me. I'm talking to mum and dad almost every day and get decent holidays to go home and see my friends. You hear a lot of stories about trainees but the lads at Wolves have no reason to complain. We're not even asked to clean the first-teamers boots anymore! In playing football, we're doing what we've always wanted."

Johnny Dunleavy needn't clean the boots of others. The pair he owns, and the good head upon his shoulders, will see that his bright future continues.

[Donegalcelt]

only ireland and holland through at the minute

[Torn-Ado]

Whats the story with Scotlands group in this. Their elite group is Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Slovenia while we had to tend with the Germans, Greeks and Portuguese.

That doesn't seem right. Unless I'm missing something here.

[NeilMcD]

Its to do with seeding at U17 level not Senior level

[geysir]

I can imagine that it's tricky to be seeding u17 national teams, nevertheless our group contained 2 of the traditional consistent best in Germany and Portugal.

McCaffrey was interviewed on RTE he said that it was a big help to have a full team available for the last game and (against habit) did mention Conor Clifford in particular as being an inspirational captain.

He also said that there are less numbers of kids going to England, that more kids are being developed at home in the LOI.

[tetsujin1979]

Scotland qualify with 100% record: http://www.uefa.com/competitions/under17/fixturesresults/round=15029/match=302012/report=rp.html?cid=rssfeed&att=index

[green army]

execellent news.well done to all involved.

[Seagull-4-life]

Sport
Johnny’s Turkish Delight


Johnny Dunleavy captained the heroic Republic of Ireland Under-17 side that dramatically qualified for the European Championships on Tuesday. He spoke to Alan Foley before and after that memorable game.

Moments after Armenian referee Arman Amirkhanyan blasted the final whistle at Terryland Park last Thursday to conclude the Republic of Ireland Under-17s' draw with Germany, home supporters trickled off into the different directions of the night satisfied with the goal apiece draw.

In front of Galway United's clubhouse, Brendan Dunleavy stood patiently in the chill. Under the glare of the floodlights that illuminated the dimly-lit Dyke Road, the Ballybofey native focused on the post-match events as attentively as the contest that had preceded it.

There, the Irish team warmed down, before they sportingly shared a reciprocal applause with the visiting Germans, who made their way to the dressing rooms after the opening fixture of the UEFA Under-17 Elite Group Stage.

Whilst the away players wandered toward the showers, the Irish youngsters, still decked in shorts, socks, and muddened at the knees, stopped and stooped over the advertising hoardings.

They exchanged hearty handshakes and hugs with family members and friends who travelled to the banks of the bellowing Corrib from all corners of the country to see their loved ones in green jerseys.

Dunleavy, a financial adviser by trade, is appreciated in Donegal having represented the senior county footballers in his own day. Now his son Johnny, a first year apprentice with Wolverhampton Wanderers, is undertaking a telling path of his own.

Sean McCafferty's team's draw against Germany provided Dunleavy and his teammates with a respectable start to the second phase on the road that meanders to May's European Championships in Turkey.

However, on Saturday at Athlone Town's Lissywollen Stadium, a surprise 2-1 defeat against Greece put Ireland on elimination's brink. It was a Greek tragedy. Before the final pool game against Portugal back in Galway, the mountain they faced was dauntingly steep.

With the gameplan now significantly altered, Ireland's teens sought a German victory over Greece in the midlands on closing night. At the same time, they required a win themselves against Portugal, at the very least, by a similar scoreline of two goals or more. Only that conundrum would enable Ireland to seize the singular place on offer.

All four teams would then finish level on four points. Goal difference would prove the only differential. Ireland's players, who gathered at the Clayton Hotel, then gazed through a cloudless Galway spring evening from the bus window dreaming of what might be. The margins were wafer-thin, their odds perhaps long, but an element of hope lingered in the air.

"We couldn't really believe that we lost the match against Greece," began Dunleavy. "It was one of them nights, we had so many chances, and we were absolutely devastated. We regrouped though and spoke about the Portugal match.

"We knew there was every chance that Germany would beat Greece. That was the only way they could stay in the competition. If they could, we knew what we had to do. At half-time, we were scoreless, and we knew that Germany were 1-0 up. Winning our own game was our priority."

In remarkable fashion, the events of the evening began to gradually unfold in front of disbelieving eyes. John Cunningham of Manchester City volleyed home through a crowded area to manufacture an Irish lead on 51 minutes. Then, six minutes later, Gavin Gunning rose highest to add a second. Turkey seemed so much closer.

Germany though, were two up themselves, and only nine Greeks remained on the field after two of their conscripts were sent off. A third German goal would eliminate Ireland. And like Ireland, it was backs to the wall stuff for Greece. In hindsight, perhaps it was easier for the brave Irish players to endure the torment of matters out of their control by focusing on their own immediate concerns.

"About two minutes from time, we were 2-0 up, and Sean McCafferty said that if we could hold out we would be on our way to the European Championships in Turkey," continued Dunleavy. "Portugal pushed on with their wingers and our 'keeper made a couple of great saves. Thank God we held out. It was brilliant at the final whistle. We're absolutely delighted. Unbelievable."

Liverpool, the team Dunleavy supports, have shown the way. Miracles, like theirs in Istanbul in 2005, are known to float amid the night air in the far off sultry land where west meets east.

A stylish central defender, one that appears to have both confidence and competence in equal measure on the football pitch, the 16-year-old is similarly impressive in his demeanour. Perhaps it's his family's influence or maybe it's because of his personal make-up, but Dunleavy has his feet rooted firmly rooted to the ground.

Formerly of the Uniteds of Ballybofey and Drumkeen, he has plenty on board and possesses a willingness to learn in what is one of the most rough and tumble businesses. He ticks all the right boxes in the ultra-competitive world that young aspiring professionals find themselves in.

A regular spectator at Finn Park, Dunleavy also wore the GAA colours of the MacCumhaill's club with distinction. He even became the youngest competition winner in the history of Ballybofey & Stranorlar Golf Club. Last July, after pondering a proposal that came from an envelope with a Wolverhampton postmark upon it, he left for pastures new.

"Things are going great and I'm really enjoying myself at Wolves," Dunleavy added. "I'm playing a bit for the reserves now alongside the likes of Gary Breen, Darron Gibson, Graham Stack and Kevin Kyle that used to play for Sunderland. It's a good standard.

"Lorcan Keeney from Letterkenny was over there a couple of years ago. Although I never got the chance to talk to him before I left, I've managed to track him down on the internet, on Bebo, and he's been wondering how I am getting on and I've kept in touch with him."

Over the road from Molineux, Dunleavy has another familiar face. Gavin Carlin, a goalkeeper from the Crossroads, shared the good luck messages as both he and his companion Dunleavy headed from the Finn Valley to the Black Country together.

Carlin is a West Bromwich Albion conscript and part of the Hawthorns' outfit's second string. In January at Compton Park, a 1-1 draw between the two sides in the Under-18s meant everyone could go happy.

"Some lads get really homesick but I can honesty say that I'm loving every single minute of it. I get to meet Gavin quite a bit and we head off shopping together. It's nice to have a friend so close.

"The family that I get digs with are great to me. I'm talking to mum and dad almost every day and get decent holidays to go home and see my friends. You hear a lot of stories about trainees but the lads at Wolves have no reason to complain. We're not even asked to clean the first-teamers boots anymore! In playing football, we're doing what we've always wanted."

Johnny Dunleavy needn't clean the boots of others. The pair he owns, and the good head upon his shoulders, will see that his bright future continues.
That's real good

[geysir]

That's real good
So good that you want us to read it twice.:)

[gola11]

Switzerland have qualified for finals. That's Holland, Scotland, Turkey, Switzerland and us sofar.....

[gola11]

Final line-up is

France
Holland
Ireland
Scotland
Serbia
Spain
Switzerland
Turkey

[Kingdom]

Having disposed off Germany Portugal Greece Denmark Ukraine already these lads have nothing to be afraid of.

[Donegalcelt]

draw tomorrow (thursday) evening

[gspain]

We got France spain and Switzerland

[eirebhoy]

Tough one.

Turkey, Netherlands, Serbia and Scotland in the other group.

[Kingdom]

We got France spain and Switzerland

Its a tough one but there's probably not a lot between the two groups I think. Important they didn't get Turkey.

[gspain]

We play France first on May 4th, Switzerland on May 7th and then Spain next on saturday May 10th. no venues or kickoff times yet.

[Kingdom]

7 points to win the group. Take a point off france beat the clock makers then take Spain in the last game. Easy....:)

[Torn-Ado]

Its to do with seeding at U17 level not Senior level

It still doesn't seem right. Scotland had to play Slovakia, Belarus, Liechtenstein, Wales, Slovenia, Northern Ireland to get there while we played Denmark, Slovenia, Ukraine, Germany, Portugal, Greece.

I can't imagine U-17 level is that far different to senior level in terms of merit of the nations. Who cares anyways, Ireland are there.

[Dr. Ogba]

any chance these will be televised? Eurosport perhaps???

[eirebhoy]

any chance these will be televised? Eurosport perhaps???
Yeh it's usually on Eurosport. I watched most of Scotland's U19s on Eurosport last year. They got to the final.

[geysir]

Eurosport showed the u16 final victory against Italy. Billy McNeill was the co commentator, I think the hard Scot was clearly over emotional when the final whistle blew.

[Dr. Ogba]

Eurosport showed the u16 final victory against Italy. Billy McNeill was the co commentator, I think the hard Scot was clearly over emotional when the final whistle blew.


yeah I remember that. I may be imagining things but didn't Andy Reid captain that team?

[geysir]

Don't know but I doubt it, wasn't he was the baby of the team?
I always wondered about the legality of the goal from Keith Foy's free kick. The Italian wall was well flattened by a sideways rugby style shove to create a nice gap.

[Supreme feet]

Shaun Byrne from West Ham captained the team. As far as I remember the team was -

Joe Murphy

Jonathan Douglas
Keith Foy
John O'Shea
Jim Goodwin

??? Think it was Brendan McGill or Thomas Butler
Shaun Byrne
Liam Miller
Andy Reid

Graham Barrett
David McMahon

[geysir]

That's close for the one that beat Italy, just take of Douglas and put on Thompson. And McGill played.

[cheifo]

Disapointing long term return on lads that won that trophy.Injuries played a part in some of those lads not reaching their potential but still disapointing.
BTW I presume Conor Clifford will be starring for Chelsea in the FA youth final opposite the Man City lads?

[Dr. Ogba]

That's close for the one that beat Italy, just take of Douglas and put on Thompson. And McGill played.

I remember being really excited watching McGill - reminded me of Duff in the u20 championships, he was a small tricky little winger and was quite impressive in that final. Last I heard of him he was plying his trade with Carlisle during the Roddy Collins years....

[Shedender81]

yeah I remember that. I may be imagining things but didn't Andy Reid captain that team?

Shaun Byrne was capt

[eirebhoy]

BTW I presume Conor Clifford will be starring for Chelsea in the FA youth final opposite the Man City lads?
Nope

Chelsea: Rhys Taylor, Seth Nana Ofori-Twumasi, Jeffrey Van Homoet Bruma, Patrick Van Aanholt, Benjamin Gordon, Michael Woods, Miroslav Stoch, Jacob Mellis, Morten Nielsen (Adam Phillip, 62) Sergio Tejera Rodriguez, Gael Kakuta.

Subs not used: Niclas Heimann, Thomas Taiwo, Daniel Philliskirk, Frank Nouble.

[geysir]

Disapointing long term return on lads that won that trophy.Injuries played a part in some of those lads not reaching their potential but still disapointing.
O´Shea was the one who had his ManU future marked out then.
It's ironic that he is playing for a top club, got the medals and looking at a few more but 99% of us would pick Andy Reid meandering around the low levels as the one who is reaching potential.

[gspain]

Kickoff times and venues now available here

http://www.tff.org/default.aspx?pageID=679

France 4pm local time Sunday 4/5
Switzerland 4pm local time Wednesday 7/5
Spain 8pm local time Saturday 10/5

Turkey is cirrently 2 hours ahead so assume 2pm and 6pm Irish time.

No real chance of the Swiss game being on tv as it is in the small stadium and head to head with Turkey v Scotland. However our games v France and Spain are in the bigger stadium and have Scotland v Serbia and Spain v Switzerland as the opposition so must be good candidates.

[Razors left peg]

Disapointing long term return on lads that won that trophy.Injuries played a part in some of those lads not reaching their potential but still disapointing.
BTW I presume Conor Clifford will be starring for Chelsea in the FA youth final opposite the Man City lads?

Think Clifford is a year younger than the lads in the youth cup so he should be in the team next year

[gspain]

The Ireland v France game at 2pm BST on Sunday May 4th and the Ireland v Spain game at 6pm BST Saturday May 10th will both be shown live on eurosport. The Swiss game on May 7th is not live.

Both semi finals on May 13th and the final on May 16th are also live should we make them.