Kilcock Celtic’s senior team will face the Longford Town u19s on January 21st, with the winner taking home the Frank O’Connor Memorial Cup.
The tie will take place at Kilcock’s Bawnogues pitch and kick off at 1pm. Save the date in your diary!!
Kilcock manager Brendan Rooney coached the Midlanders u19 side in the past, where some current members of his Celtic team also plyed their trade.
Kilcock man Brendan Rooney has joined Wayne Groves coaching team at Shelbourne FC u19s for the coming League of Ireland season.
Groves was tonight announced as manager of Shels promising underage team, with Rooney once again joining up with him, with the pair having previously worked together last season, rather succesfully, at Longford Town u19s.
Speaking to an excited Rooney tonight, the Down native said; “I am delighted to be getting involved at a club with such a strong history as Shelbournes’. They may have gone through a difficult time of late but in my opinion they are a sleeping giant. A bit similar to Leeds United at the moment. Only a matter of time before they are back in the big time and I am itching to get going, to play my part in that.”
Rooney added; “I am grateful that I am getting the chance to work alongside Wayne again as we had a great partnership at Longford Town last season.”
Six players from Kilcock Celtics’ league winning u17 premier team were invited down to train with Longford Town in the last couple of weeks and left with their reputations enhanced after impressing manager Wayne Groves.
Adam O’Connell, Lee Loughnane & Remi Kareen after Longford Town training.
Kilcock man Brendan Rooney, who is part of Groves’ coaching staff, brought the lads down to give them a chance to train with the Airtricity Premier League clubs’ u19 team and the six, Fionn Talbot, Dylan Bradley, Josh Sherlock, Adam O’Connell, Lee Loughnane and Remi Kareen didn’t let him down. Rooney said; “I am on the coaching staff, Wayne Groves is the manager, he is ex St.Kevins . I took them down to train and give them a chance and Wayne told them during the week that he would like to keep them training, with a view to signing in the future”.
Fionn Talbot, Josh Sherlock & Dylan Bradley after their session with Longford Town.
It would come as no surprise to see some of these lads strutting their stuff at the top-level of Irish football in the next few years, following in the footsteps of fellow Kilcock men Aaron Brilly (Cabinteely FC) and Ciaran Kilduff (Dundalk). Id addition to this Brian McNamara is currently banging them in for American side Nashville FC.
Robert Cox 