Festy the latest to proudly don green

SCHOOLBOYS SOCCER in Wexford has received another considerable boost with the selection of Festy Ebosele on the Republic of Ireland Under-15 squad to take on Poland in two friendlies today (Tuesday) and Thursday in Lomza.

The Enniscorthy lad honed his considerable talent at Moyne Rangers before moving on to St. Joseph’s Boys in Dublin, one of the leading feeder clubs in Ireland for the cross-channel scene.

Festy will be accompanied by at least one familiar face as the coaching team includes Will Doyle who this time last year steered Wexford Youths Women to the Continental Tyres FAI Women’s Cup title.

Another Enniscorthy lad, Aaron Dobbs of Shamrock Rovers, was in action with the Republic of Ireland Under-18 side in a friendly against the Netherlands in Cambrils, Spain, on Friday.

He was joined on the team for a scoreless draw by Thomas O’Connor from Southampton, the Rosbercon lad who was a talented all-rounder with Good Counsel (New Ross) and also excelled in hurling and Gaelic football.

Dobbs had a half-chance with a header close to the interval but it failed to trouble the Dutch netminder. Another header from the striker went wide in the 64th minute, and he was unlucky not to get a back-post connection on a free-kick.

Dobbs continued to threaten and almost beat ’keeper Kenny Lipman in the 78th minute, but Ireland were denied by a defensive block.

They were in action again at the same venue on Sunday, leading Germany 2-0 at the midway stage but eventually losing 3-2. However, Dobbs didn’t feature in that loss while O’Connor was introduced off the bench in the 68th minute.