Under19
- Friday September 9th, 2016 @ 15:19
Cork City And St Pat's Set To Contest The Enda McGuill Cup Final
Cork City and St Patrick's Athletic are set to contest for the Enda McGuill Cup at Turner's Cross on Sunday.
The final of the U19 competition kicks-off at 2.30pm as both sides look to add to what has been a successful league season.
Cork City U19s have already won the SSE Airtricity League Southern Division and have qualified for the UEFA Youth League where they're set to play Finnish side HJS Helsinki.
St. Patrick's Athletic are currently top of the Northern Division and have recently seen a number of their own youth products step up to Liam Buckley's first-team squad.
Cork City U19s manager Stephen Bermingham hopes to see a large crowd at the game on Sunday but knows Pats will be a difficult opponent.
Bermingham said: "It should be a great game and obviously home advantage is a big help for us, and we're expecting a big crowd to help us get over the line.
"We know a lot about St. Pats as we know they're a really good side who've had a number of players get into their first-team over the years so it should be a great spectacle.
"We take one game at a time. The players are all looking forward to the start of the UEFA Youth League but we remain fully focused on the next game and it'll be no different for the cup final.
"We've been unbeaten since last August but I know how good Pats are so we can't take anything for granted. I think one thing is guaranteed, that anyone who comes to the match on Sunday will be in for a great spectacle."
St Patrick's Athletic Under 19s manager Garrett Dodrill is expecting one of the toughest games his side will face and has praised the quality of the SSE Airtricity League U19 league.
Dodrill said: "We're really looking forward to the final as we've worked hard to get there.
"Ultimately, it's about getting players into the first-team, that's why we're there. It's nice to get to cup finals and expose the young players to real occasions but to see a number of players progress to the first-team this season has been great.
"We've got four lads in and around the first-team squad at the minute which is great for the rest of the group. The league is improved immensely over the years and we're seeing more players stay with us at an early age now, completing their leave certificate at home because the youth coaching is here in Ireland.
"It will be difficult though and we're expecting one of the toughest games we've come across. It'll be down at Turner's Cross so there'll have home advantage but at the end of the day, it's a cup final and I'd expect our lads to hold nothing back on the day."
