Cabinteely test for the Kerry Under 17s

AIRTRICITY UNDER 17 LEAGUE Cabinteely v Kerry Sunday March 18 at 2pm

THE Kerry under 17 team take a voyage into uncharted waters next Sunday when they open their League of Ireland programme in Dublin against Cabinteely.

This is a game they will be targeting to get something from but they will have to deliver a top- drawer performance if it is to be achieved.

All the training and preparations have been done and now its down to the players to do the business on the field of play.

At the beginning of a league programme it is difficult to determine the strength of opponents but as this is a Dublin side they will provide formidable opposition.

Kerry will go into the game with a positive approach and will be hoping to come home with something in the bag.

Spirit in the Kerry camp is very high going into the game and now they will be hoping they can translate this into the performance necessary to get a favourable result in the capital.

Team selection is going to require careful consideration with competition for places on the team very intense. It would be fantastic to come away with a win but a share of the spoils would be quite acceptable also.

Manager Optimistic

THE manager of the Kerry team Darren Aherne says he is looking forward to the season ahead and the challenge that the new season brings.

“Our preparations are going very well and all the squad can’t wait for the first game. Obviously we will be targeting teams that we can get points from but we will find it hard against the top clubs such as Shamrock Rovers, Cork City and Watereford. However, we will be going into every game trying to win and that has to be our objective.

“We are having a challenge game this Thursday evening at Mounthawk Park against ITT Tralee and this will be an opportunity to see the team in action and view their strengths and weaknesses.

“We have a good squad again this season and having six from last year’s squad is an extra bonus. It is nice to have a balance of players as going in with a whole squad with no experience would be very difficult.

“We will be targeting Cabinteely as a side we can get something from in the first game and we will be trying to get as many points as possible from our home games.”

Asked what the management expectations going into the new season are Aherne said they will go with the flow and see where it takes them.

“It is only when we have a few games played that we really know how good the team is and we will do our best to try and steer them on the right path and use their strengths to our advantage and try and mend any weaknesses we may have”

“All the players are very excited ahead of the first game and they can’t wait for it to come. Morale on the training pitch has been excellent with every member of the squad giving great commitment and dedication and a great camaraderie is building up among the players.

“We are fortunate to have a strong squad and that ensures that there will be keen competition for places on the team and a strong bench is essential as five subs can be used in every game which gives the manager options if things are going against them.

“We are all looking forward to the first home game on March 25 against UCD and that will be a great occasion at Mounthawk Park. The home support gave us a great lift in last year’s league campaign and we are hoping that the attendances will get even bigger this season.

“We have been meticulous in our preparations so now it will be down to the players to translate that on to positive results on the field of play.”

The manager said he is delighted that Billy Dennedy has joined as a coach this year as he is a role model to any young player trying to make a living from the game.

“Billy will bring a wealth of experience with him and that will be a huge asset to us and give all the squad a great injection of confidence and self belief. He has played the game cross channel and also has a wealth of experience playing with League of Ireland clubs.

“We are fortunate to be able to welcome him on board and look forward to working with him in the months ahead,” he added.