KDUL to link up with top League of Ireland club to provide pathway for young players to top level soccer

Kildare and District Underage League have announced that the association will link up with SSE Airtricity League club St Patrick's Athletic in the coming years to provide a clear pathway for youngsters in the county to progress onto the biggest stage of Irish club soccer. The Inchicore club are one of the most successful clubs in the history of the League of Ireland, having won their last league title back in 2013, while they won the FAI Cup the following year and in 2015 they added the EA Sports Cup to their list of titles. Pat's currently have two former underage stars on their books, with Athy's Rory Feely in the U19 squad and former Moone Celtic midfielder Mark McGinley involved with the U17 team. Pat Mc Nally, Secretary of the Kildare and District Underage League, is delighted with this new innovation. "I have worked with Liam Buckley Manager of St Patrick's Athletic before and I am very much aware of Liam's philosophy and I am sure that this affiliation will benefit both the League and St Patrick's Athletic," he said. "I'm delighted that we are able to work together with The Kildare & District Underage League," said Pat's manager Buckley. "Kildare & District Underage League have made giant strides in the last few years and are currently ranked as second only to DDSL in the rankings for the Kennedy Cup. The work they have carried out in recent years has been outstanding, with many players having come through their underage structures." "Working with local clubs is something that St Pat's have always tried to do as we're one of the strongest community clubs in the Country," added Buckley. "Working with the KDUL is an extension of this arrangement and is certainly something that I am really excited about and look forward to progressing in the years to come." According to a statement on the KDUL website, both St Patrick's Athletic and KDUL have agreed the following;  

• That the coaching should centre around developing the player as footballers rather than a win at all costs mentality.
• That neither of the two bodies will lose any of their identity as a result of the agreement, although it is envisaged that the KDUL will carry the St Patricks Athletic crest on their gear.
• Both St Pats and K.D.U.L. are community based and will continue to be so, and will continue to develop and improve soccer in their respective areas.
• To exchange invitations between coaches, to review, and discuss new ideas and initiatives leading to further coaching developments that further enhances the reputation of the both both
• That the KDUL will promote to their young players the benefit of joining St Patricks Athletic from under 17 and promote the scholarship program with Maynooth University
• As a result of the agreement, St Patricks Athletic will continue to invite the KDUL Academy players to Richmond Park for Airtricity league games and in this respect the Under 12 Academy team were guests of honour at the recent league game against league champions Dundalk AFC.

Brian Dalton, Assistant Manager of the Sallins Celtic under 16 team, and who has had a long standing involvement with St Patrick's Athletic FC, has been heavily involved with youth football for many years, will act as the main liaison between the Kildare & District Underage League and St Patrick's Athletic and will continue to promote the interests of football and help ensure both bodies strengthen the underage game.