International football for Tralee
KILLARNEY CELTIC: Robert Osborne, Chris O’Leary, Brendan Falvey, John McDonagh, Stevie O’Mahony, Stephen Maloney, Matt Keane, Gary Keane, Wayne Sparling, James Sugrue, Padraig O’Connor, Danny Roche UNDERAGE international football comes to Tralee next week when the KDL hosts the Victory Shield under 16 Tournament from Monday, November 12 to Friday November 16.
Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are the participants and Ireland the reigning champions are bidding for three in-a-row after winning the title for the past two years.
It has been a major coup for the KDL to secure this prestigious tournament and the red carpet will be out for all the teams competing. The games will be hosted at Mounthawk Park as well as at neighbouring Christy Leahy Park and Tralee Dynamos pitch at Cahermoneen.
The KDL have been burning the midnight oil over the past couple of weeks getting all the arrangements in place to ensure everything is ready for the tournament.
The chairman of the KDL Seán O’Keeffe says it is a great honour for the KDL to host the event and they will be leaving no stone unturned ensuring all the arrangements run off smoothly and ensuring all the visitors get the very best of hospitality.
“We have been very busy over the past few weeks getting everything ready, the spring cleaning has been done and all the facilities are in great shape for the big occasion.
“Our second all weather pitch is open for play and our neighbouring clubs St Brendans Park and Tralee Dynamos have done a great job getting their facilities ready for the tournament.
“A lot of work has been done behind the scene by volunteers and everything will be in great shape for the games. The tournament will bring a lot of people to Tralee and the home base for all the teams is The Rose Hotel.
“As well as all four teams members of their families and friends will also be attending so the hotel will be booked out and some people will be staying in other hotels in the town.
“It is great to see International football coming to Mounthawk Park and it is a great opportunity for soccer fans around the county to come out and support the Irish team. All the teams are coming in before the weekend and will be training at Mounthawk Park.
“It will be a history-making occasion for Kerry soccer hosting an international tournament and we are excited and really looking forward to the occasion. The Kerry Referees Society will be providing the officials for all the games and this will be a huge occasion for all involved.”
The tournament gets off to a very appealing start on Monday evening when the Republic of Ireland face Northern Ireland at Mounthawk Park with a 6pm kick off.
There is a special ticket price for anyone who will be attending all the games and it is €10 and can be obtained from members of the KDL. This ticket will allow one adult admission to all the games.
VICTORY SHIELD FIXTURES 2018
Monday November 12: Scotland v Wales, St. Brendan’s Park (Christy Leahy Park) , K.O. 1pm
Monday November 12 Republic of Ireland v Northern Ireland, Mounthawk Park, K.O. 6pm
Wednesday November 12 : Republic of Ireland v Wales, Mounthawk Park, K.O. 1pm
Wednesday November 14: Northern Ireland v Scotland, Mounthawk Park, K.O. 6pm
Friday November 16: Scotland v Republic of Ireland, Tralee Dynamos (Cahermoneen), K.O. 1pm
Friday November 16: Wales v Northern Ireland, Mounthawk Park, K.O. 1pm
Republic of Ireland Under-16 Squad
Goalkeepers: Arlo Doherty (Manchester City), Josh Keely (St. Patrick’s Athletic),
Defenders: Fionnan Coyle (Finn Harps), Anselmo Garcia MacNulty (Real Betis), Oisin Hand (Shamrock Rovers), Leigh Kavanagh (Bray Wanderers), Ronan Kilkenny (Bohemians), Gavin O’Brien (Bohemians)
Midfielders: Louie Barry (West Bromwich Albion), Colin Conroy (Bohemians), Kyle Conway (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Oran Crowe (Cork City), Lee Harkin (Tristar Boys), Ben McCormack (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Andrew Moran (Bray Wanderers)
Forwards: Roland Banya (Shamrock Rovers), Daniel Gildea (Finn Harps), Callum Kavanagh (Middlesbrough), Billy Vance (Bray Wanderers)