The Extratime.ie Sportscast Episode 113 - Dave Connell - Macdara Ferris
Credit: Peter Fitzpatrick (ETPhotos)
On the latest edition of the extratime.ie Sportscast, Declan Marron and Dave Donnelly are joined by FAI head of women's underage development Dave Connell.
Extratime.ie contributor Macdara Ferris also speaks to Dec after his trip to Paris to witness a historic first cap for Shamrock Rovers striker Graham Burke.
Connell – who also manages the under-19s international side – speaks about the controversial restructuring of the Gaynor Cup.
The Gaynor Cup, which pits the best girls' leagues from around the country at under-12, under-14 and under-16 level will once again take place at the University of Limerick in June.
This year, the number of sides in the older competitions has been reduced from 41 – 20 at under-16 level and 21 at under-14 – to 32, with four under-12 sides also in action.
Connell spoke of how the changes relate to the declining standard of the tournament, with the reduced number of teams aiming to increase contact between elite players at the top level.
The Dubliner – who played for Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers during a successful playing career – speaks about taking the under-19 to the European Championships semi-finals in 2014.
That Ireland side, featuring Katie McCabe and Megan Connolly, lot 4-0 to a Netherlands side containing several of the senior side that won in Dublin last month, including Vivianne Miedema.
Connell also reveals a few little-known facts about his time captaining the Ireland under-15s, where a side containing Harry Kenny and Ronnie Whelan triumphed against some legends of the game.
Macdara also chats to Dec about all the week's league action and looks ahead to this weekend's fixtures.
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