NDSL Kennedy Cup Side Impress in England Trip

23 Apr NDSL Kennedy Cup Side Impress in England Trip

The NDSL is arguably one of Ireland’s leading schoolboy leagues, while the Kennedy Cup is often heralded as the best youth football can offer in Ireland. When they come together you expect results, but only with the prerequisite hard work. Here at DB Sports Tours we’re today chuffed to tell all of our readers about the NDSL Kennedy Cup select side’s recent matches against some of England’s elite youth teams.

The North Dublin Schoolboy League (NDSL) have a select side of the very best that the league can offer, and this year will compete in the annual Kennedy Cup. The Kennedy Cup will take place in June, but preparations for the tournament are already underway.

Last month, the NDSL select played three tough matches in preparation for this summer’s tournament, playing Everton, Sheffield United and Oldham Athletic. Everton’s senior side of course play in the Premier League, but are one of the best ran academies in England, having recently produced the mercurial talent of Ross Barkley.
Sheffield United’s senior team play in England’s third tier – The Sky Bet League 1. Meanwhile Oldham Athletic’s senior side play also play in the Sky Bet League 1. The matches were played just under two weeks ago, from March 29 – April 1.

First off, the NDSL select team took on Everton, their most illustrious opponents. Playing at their academy, the well known Finch Farm, the Irish youths acquitted themselves extremely well, going down marginally to the Merseysiders 2-0. The result and the performance was illustrative of the level of performance the boys can show, especially under such pressurized circumstances.

Next up on their team trip was a match against Sheffield United, played at their own academy. This match was a continuation of their superlative form, this time winning 4-1. Two games in and six goals scored might be a surprise to those that don’t know the quality of the NDSL team, but for those who are familiarised with the boys in the team won’t be at all surprised.

The third match in this team tour was against Oldham Athletic. If the last match was just an increase in attacking quality for the NDSL team, then this was another increase in quality. Ending 5-1 to the Irish side they showed a level of patience and ingenuity in attack which will surely stand to them in the Kennedy Cup in June.

This trip was of course organised by DB Sports Tours, and we believe it shows our continued promise to help develop Irish football at all levels of ability. For more information on our sports tours keep an eye on the blog here or contact a member of our team to book your dream tour today info@dbsportstours.com.