Ahead of the opening weekend of the SSE Airtricty National Under 15 League, Limerick boss Ger Costelloe believes that he has a very competitive side that will be shown exactly what it takes to get to the next level. Games kick-off on the week ending
Ahead of the opening weekend of the SSE Airtricty National Under 15 League, Limerick boss Ger Costelloe believes that he has a very competitive side that will be shown exactly what it takes to get to the next level.
Games kick-off on the week ending August 20th and Costelloe believes his squad are ready for the challenges ahead.
"The preparations are going well. We've been training hard the last few weeks but we'd to wait until the Kennedy Cup was out of the way.
"I'm really excited about it. The squad we have together are very eager. We've a camp soon where we'll spend three full days in Bruff as a training base. It's good to show the lads the next level and the commitment they'll need to carry on.
"The Under 15 League is huge. It will be the first real step in the pathway to getting players into senior football.
"I'm the same as any manager at any age group. It's a stepping stone to the next level. Now that we have what we consider some of the best players available to us, it's a matter of us bringing them on as players - up to 17s, 19s and to senior level," he said.
Costelloe is well versed in underage football in Limerick - having a background in the Desmond League - which makes him a good fit for the job at hand.
"I was with Limerick for a few years before this, so I'm aware of players. Before that I was out in the Desmond League," he explained.
"The talent is there. If you look at the Kennedy Cup, the Desmond side have done quite well in the last three. Clare are always good, the County is always good. We've six regions to be picking from and we're picking the best."
With Limerick being the spiritual home of the Kennedy Cup, the Shannonsiders will take great pride in sending out an Under 15 side in the national framework, and Costelloe was quick to laud the tournament.
"I've brought three teams to the Kennedy Cup with the Desmond League. We stayed there for a week. We could have been in Dublin or Cork but the good thing about UL is that once you get into the campus, you don't need to leave it for anything. It's great that it's on in UL," he finished.
