It has been an encouraging opening to the 2022 campaign for Martin Devlin’s Galway United U17s.
Two solid victories have been carved out by Devlin’s outfit, who are away to Derry City in their next competitive fixture on April 2.
“We have made a good start, we beat Finn Harps 3-0 away in the first game and then we beat Sligo 2-0 at home in the second game,” Devlin says. “It is just a start, but we are very happy with it so far.”
Undoubtedly it is a challenge at U17 level with several players being integrated from the U15 squad and others progressing to feature with the U19s.
“It is, we have to work a lot in conjunction with the U19s and U15s management teams, especially this year because we have 10 players born in 2006 so they will be underage again next year and then we have four lads born in 2007, they are eligible to play U15 this year,” Devlin explains. “So it is about managing those younger lads.”
Devlin monitors what is happening locally too. “Last Friday we played a Galway FA U16 squad, Gerry Martin and Dave Silke are over them, they said 10 of them have played in the League of Ireland. That helps with their plans for the inter-leagues, but it gives us the opportunity to see them again.
“I can see vast improvements in players over the course of a season having played and trained with players of the calibre that they are. It is unfortunate that there is a gap in years from U15s to U17s, some players may just not be ready to play the age group above so they go back to play with their own clubs.
“They still go back having learned and developed a great amount. Hopefully they will come back in again to try for the following year.”
In 2021 Devlin’s U17s reached the final of the Mark Farren Cup, losing to Cork City at Turners Cross in the decider.
“I think it gave the players confidence - to be able to go to places like Shelbourne to win, put in a really good performance like we did in the semi-final,” Devlin reflects.
“We were probably unlucky to lose in the final, but I think we gave a fairly decent account of ourselves. The confidence in the team as a whole grew throughout that run in the cup, we had some decent league results after we were slow to start.”
From that squad - Steven Healy, Mikey McCullagh, and David Tarmey all featured during the Republic of Ireland schools team 2-1 win over Scotland on Friday.
“That is great for the club, we can see players progressing,” Devlin adds.
“You have to give opportunities to the later developer if you can. Dave Tarmey is a prime example there, he came into us last year mid season. He is one of those who came on for the Irish schoolboys team on Friday, he is in our U19 squad now.
“Where was he before that? He was playing with Cregmore, I don't think he even applied to come in on trial with us at any stage, he just really took his opportunity and is progressing really well.”
Devlin’s willingness to develop talent is helping the latest generation of footballers in the west.
**Listen to the full interview with Galway United U17 manager Martin Devlin on this week's 'Cian on Sport' podcast available on Soundcloud, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
