Galway clubs set for "A" adventure

Salthill Devon and Mervue United will begin their League of Ireland odyssey with their opening fixtures in the eircom League A Championship this weekend. Both clubs had previously entered competitions at U-21 level, with Salthill being the only non-league club to capture the trophy and Mervue once reaching the final of the Enda McGill Cup. Both have also been involved in the FAI Cup, with Salthill going down 4-0 to UCD a couple of seasons ago.

They are part of a trio of clubs to be invited into this new league - which was a quartet until Sporting Fingal took Kilkenny's spot in the First Division - and will be hoping that their impressive youth structures will produce the quality players that could eventually move them into the ranks of the First Division. Both argued that, because of the demise of the Connacht Senior League, they had no option but to apply for entry to the A Championship so as to give the club's young stars a higher level to play at.

Neither club has dominated at Junior level in recent years, but the feeling is that the young talent coming through is stagnating at that level and not getting the chance to prove that they are good enough to play at a higher standard. Salthill Devon had four underage teams in Irish cup semi-finals this year, while Mervue made the breakthrough two years ago with a triumph at U-14 level. Salthill's Ger Hanley impressed in goal for Ireland at the European U-17 finals in Turkey, while Greg Cunningham, now at Manchester City after a move from Mervue, was also heavily involved.

Interestingly, both have appointed managerial partnerships to guide their sides through this inaugural campaign. Emlyn Long (pictured right) and Mike Quirke will lead Salthill Devon, while Johnny Glynn and Mark Herrick form an experienced duo at Mervue. Long and Quirke were in charge of the side who defeated Cork City to capture the U-21 title two years ago, and ex-Galway United stalwart Quirke will continue to provide leadership on the field as well as off it.

When asked recently whether he felt the youngsters at the club had what it takes to make it at this level, Long expressed his belief that they would be able to cope. "It is a massive challenge alright, but I think we are going to be up for it. The structures are solid throughout the club and the A Championship will be the tip of the ice-berg. We have excellent young players coming through from all age groups and this is the level we want them to aim for. If they can move on another level to full-time professional football then they will go with our blessing. I mean it is a massive opportunity for a player to put himself on show against top-quality opposition.

"Yes, it’s going to be a slow build for the club to compete at League of Ireland level but the idea is that we create the framework where players can develop to that level. Obviously in the initial stages we will be supplementing the squad, but for the A Championship, and indeed the eircom League in general, to be successful it will require clubs, both new entries and existing League of Ireland clubs, to develop a fair amount of their own players."

Both clubs have provided players for Galway United in the past, with Vinny Faherty, John Russell, Cian McBrien and Alan Keane being recent examples. Whether there is enough talent in the area to occupy three senior sides remains unclear. "That remains to be seen. Obviously there isn’t an endless pit of players suitable to the levels required, and that in reality is why developing players will be paramount, in my opinion anyway.

"It is all about creating the ‘conveyor belt’ from Juvenile through the U20’s and onto League of Ireland level. With the introduction of the A Championship a player can now join the club at under 7 and play right up to League of Ireland level. Only ourselves, Mervue and a handful of other clubs in the country can offer that." Interesting times for football in Gaway City, with Galway United struggling to retain their Premier Division status and local rivals taking the first step in a bid to maybe join them.

Drogheda United and Sligo Rovers will both have their reserve sides in Galway this weekend. Drogheda play Mervue United on Saturday at Fahy's Field, while Rovers travel out to Drom on Sunday afternoon to take on Devon.