KDUL to contest SFAI Inter League final

Thu, 06 Mar, 2025 - 16:50

Kevin Horgan

The Kildare and District Underage League play in their first U14 SFAI Inter League final on Saturday when they take on North Tipperary in University Limerick at 1.30pm.

The side has had a campaign to remember so far, according to manager Ciaran Killally. The Kildare side were drawn in group G of the competition alongside the Wicklow league and the Midlands Schoolboys league.

After winning both of their group games, the Kildare lads defeated a physical Donegal side 3-1 in the quarter final with Clane Utd's Patrick Harrington (2) and Prosperous Utd's Tuan Lee scoring the goals.

The KDUL went up against the Dundalk Schoolboys League in the semi-final and recorded a 5-2 win. Riley Doran of Clane Utd scored a brilliant first half trick in that win before Jacob Browne Larkin and Kian Lawlor scored second half goals to wrap up a final place.

Killally stated that it has been an enjoyable campaign to date.

“We have a squad of 24, we’ve had that squad of 24 since September. We had trials before that, and I would have been in contact with club managers since early August. We would have watched club pre-season games also. The club managers have been brilliant. The communication between us and the club managers is a key reason why we are where we are.”

The KDUL U14 side will also be taking part in the prestigious Kennedy Cup this year and the experienced coach is using this SFAI Inter-league campaign also as a stepping stone for the Kennedy Cup.

“We’re taking part in the Kennedy Cup down in UL in June. That will be huge for our lads. We’re using this competition to build for the Kennedy Cup but it’s a final, we want to win it. We have a group of 24 players at the moment but unfortunately, 24 doesn’t go into 20. We’ve had this group since September, so you have built up that connection with them, so it’s difficult. I meet the lads that were on the squad last year on the street and they stop to chat to you. That’s what you want. I played in the Kennedy Cup myself twice, I still remember it,” said Killally.

There are a number of clubs represented in Killally’s squad.

“There’s 22 or 23 clubs in Kildare and we have 10 of those clubs represented in our squad. That’s nearly half of the clubs in Kildare. It’s all about the kids. This weekend is all about the young lads. This is about giving them a chance and developing them, but it’s a final so we will be going out to win it for sure.”

North Tipperary are sure to be tough opponents after they won all three of their group games before comprehensively beating Mayo in the quarter-final and then coming past a very good Kilkenny team in the last four.

KDUL U14 squad:

Ben Fayne (Allenwood AFC)

Patrick Harrington (Clane Utd)

Cathal Walshe (Clane Utd)

Riley Doran (Clane Utd)

David Morgan (Kilcock Celtic)

Bobby Donnelly (Kilcock Celtic)

Zaki Abdollah (Kilcock Celtic)

Jesse Farrell (Kilcock Celtic)

Cathal McAuliffe (Kilcock Celtic)

Daniel Stepniak (Kilcullen AFC)

Dylan Lawler (Kilcullen AFC)