Barcelona to return for St Kevin’s tournament

UNDERAGE footballers at the club that gave us the likes of Messi, Xavi and Iniesta are returning to the Northside for an international tournament.

Two years ago, top Northside schoolboy soccer club St Kevin’s Boys FC pulled off a major coup by attracting Barcelona to its annual Easter tournament.

They returned again last year and the Whitehall-based club last week announced that the Catalan giants will be returning next month to defend their Academy Cup title. 

They’ll be joined by German giants Borussia Dortmund and Bayer 04 Leverkusen along with Spainish team Atlético de Madrid and English Premier League side, West Bromwich Albion.

St Kevin’s will stage what will be their tenth Academy Cup for Under 13 teams over the Easter weekend (from March 30 to April 1) at their ground on Shanowen Road in Santry.

The strong line-up of teams is sure to provide a great spectacle of top class football,

As well as some top young footballers from England and Europe, fans can see the best that Dublin has to offer.

Earlier this month, St Kevin’s announced a new partnership with Bohemian FC that will provide young players with a path to League of Ireland soccer.

Under the agreement, the clubs will enter a joint team when the 2018 SSE Airtricity U15 League season kicks off in March.

The arrangement will be extended to U13 level when the new SSE Airtricity U13 League commences in March 2019.

Republic of Ireland players Jeff Hendrick and Robbie Brady, and former stars Liam Brady and Damien Duff, are among the footballers who played for St Kevin’s Boys in their schoolboy days.