Bohemians and St Kevin’s agree five-year partnership

TOP schoolboy club St Kevin’s Boys have entered into a partnership with Bohemians that has solved a major headache for the FAI with regard to the introduction of new national underage leagues.

The case of St Kevin’s was a real problem for the Abbotstown hierarchy, with the Dublin nursery particularly aggrieved at the decision to block schoolboy clubs from taking part in the U-15 league that kicked off this year.

The FAI eventually allowed St Kevin’s to participate in the truncated U-15 season on a once-off basis – a move that enraged other schoolboy sides that had entered into deals with League of Ireland teams as they believed it was the only way to retain some ownership over the players they had produced.

PROSPECT

St Kevin’s had examined the prospect of joining the League of Ireland First Division so they could keep hold of their underage talent but the FAI had urged them to pair up with one of the Dublin clubs already in the League of Ireland.

Negotiations with Bohemians have resulted in a five-year agreement that will see them field a joint team – which will be called Bohemians-St Kevin’s – in the U-15 league.

The team that participates in the U-17 and U-19 leagues will be solely a Bohemians side, but they will use St Kevin’s facilities.

Bohemians’ underage sides have been using North Dublin Schoolboy League pitches as part of an arrangement which has been terminated to allow the St Kevin’s deal go through.

St Kevin’s director of football Ken Donohoe said: “This is an opportunity to present a defined pathway for coaches and elite players from the youngest age groups right through to League of Ireland football and beyond, using the expertise within both clubs.”

Elsewhere, key Cork City player Steven Beattie has signed a new contract with the double winners.