Local club to take on mini Messis!

A TOP Northside schoolboy soccer club has pulled off a major coup by attracting one of the biggest names in football to its annual Easter tournament. 

St Kevin’s Boys’ Football Club have announced that Barcelona FC will be sending an Under 13 team to take part in the six-team competition, which will be held from March 25-27 at their home ground at Shanowen Road, Santry.

As well as the club that nurtured the incredible talent of one Lionel Messi, Celtic FC, West Bromwich Albion, Olympique Lyonnais, from France, and another Spanish club, Deportivo La Coruna, are also taking part along with the hosts’ Under 13 Dublin and District Schoolboys’ League (DDSL) Premier Division team.

PRO for St Kevin’s Boys’ FC, Neil Fox, said his club had been trying to get Barcelona to take part in the tournament for some time.

“It is a major coup for us,” said Mr Fox. “As far as we are aware, it’s the first time that Barcelona have ever had any team playing in Dublin. 

“We have built up contacts over the years with various agents around Europe and we made initial contact with the club two years ago. 

“They (Barcelona) said they had a very busy schedule and that if they could find a gap they would come.”

The agreement was sealed before Christmas when the Under 12 team at St Kevin’s Boys were playing in a tournament outside Barcelona.  

“We made contact with their officials there and they agreed to come,” said Mr Fox. 

“We had to be absolutely certain they were coming before we could make it public. There is a great buzz around the club since we were able to confirm the news.

“It’s great for the football community all over Dublin and outside to see these players and teams. The public will get to see the stars of the future.”

Mr Fox said it will be a great experience for the Under 13 St Kevin’s players, who won the Under 12 SFAI Cup last season.  

“They will have to step up and reach the standards of these players in world class academies if they want to make it in professional football. It will be an eye-opener and very different to what they face in the DDSL every week.”

Former St Kevin’s Boys and current Republic of Ireland players Jeff Hendrick and Robbie Brady, along with manager Martin O’Neill and his assistant Roy Keane and other guests, will be making an appearance at the tournament.

The strong line-up of teams is sure to provide a great spectacle of top class football as it did last year when Deportivo were crowned champions, defeating Arsenal in the final.

Now regarded as one of the top European tournaments for elite players at this age group, the Academy Cup Tournament will begin at 10am on Good Friday with a game between the hosts and Celtic. 

There are five sessions of games over the three days: Friday: 10am and 11.30am; Friday: 4pm and 5.15pm; Saturday 10am and 11.30am; Saturday: 4pm and 5.15pm; and there will be three games on the Sunday at 10am, 11.30am and 1.30pm (Final). Admission to the tournament is €5 per visit – (two games) for adults and €2 for children.