By John Hudson

Paul O’Reilly admits that enticing students to opt for one of the SETU Carlow FAI supported Sports Coaching and Business Management Degree Courses (Football) has become more competitive.

O’Reilly is the Course Leader at SETU Carlow, a role he took on in 2009 when these courses were first established and since then Carlow has become the most popular choice for students who plan a career in football.

After a break of a couple of years working for the New Zealand FA O’Reilly returned to take up his previous role in 2021.

‘ When the courses were first established in 2009 we always had a huge demand for places as apart from UCD it was IT Carlow who were the only college or university offering similar types of degree courses.

‘However, over the years several other institutions have gradually introduced these courses which provides more competition for us.

‘In spite of this we are still drawing in plenty of students and our record of having graduates working in football both in Ireland or in the UK and abroad continues to be very high.

‘Seventeen graduates are currently working full-time at the FAI in a variety of roles including MNT Performance Analyst, High Performance Coaches, Coach Education Tutors, Grassroots Development Officers, FAI ETB Course Co-ordinators, Grassroots Executives and Women’s U-16 Manager.’

‘A number of graduates have gone on to work full-time in football in some fantastic roles. Tom Elmes, the current WNT assistant manager, Megan Smyth-Lynch, current Grassroots Executive, and Gary Seery, who currently works with manager Stephen Kenny as a performance analyst; these are all great examples of some of the people graduating from our course and working in a variety of roles.’

SETU Carlow offer two courses, the three-year level 7 Sports Coaching and Business Management (Football) (SE931) and the four-year level 8 Sports Management and Coaching (Football) (SE909), covers a range of modules with a focus on player development, coach education, performance analysis, business and sports science.

The broad nature of the course has allowed graduates to gain employment in coaching, performance analysis, strength and conditioning, in the sport and fitness industry, as professional footballers and in a range of business-related roles.

Elmes the Women’s National Under 16 manager and assistant manager of the Senior Women’s National team was in the first intake of students to the new courses in 2009 and after graduating he has continued to work in football as a player with Wexford Youths, coaching at FAI and IT Carlow while he had a hugely successful spell managing Wexford Youths in Women’s National League.

Elmes explained how he came to study in Carlow.

‘I had been playing in the League of Ireland and felt I should do something about getting qualifications for the future. I remember I tried to get into a sports course at Waterford IT but was too late. Then I saw the new course in IT Carlow had still places available so I enrolled. It was a wise decision and it gave me an excellent set of skills which helped me to stay working in football when I stopped playing.’

Current second year student Thomas Considine began to think about a career in football when he got a taste of European competition in two UEFA Youth League campaigns with Bohemians.

‘I really enjoyed everything around those UEFA games and decided I was going to have a go at looking to continue with a full time playing career.’

Sallins native Considine was also conscious of the pitfalls of embarking on this and decided to make sure he had some qualifications to fall back in business or coaching so I applied for one of the Carlow courses.

‘It’s been great at Carlow, a bit tough at times combining study and playing with Wexford FC and as part of my course I am working for my UEFA B licence too but I feel I’ve made the right choice.’

Waterford born Maeve Williams the Wexford Youths goalkeeper is in her second year at SETU Carlow and is another who is pleased she made the choice to apply.

’Several of my teammates at Wexford were already on one of the courses and seemed really excited about it and we were also training at the Carlow Campus so after doing an ETB course I decided to try Carlow and am delighted it has worked out.’

Luke Hardy, the Assistant Course Leader is keen to see the courses continue to attract students anxious to work in football.

‘We look forward to welcoming the new applications, it is an exciting time of year as we launch what will hopefully be another successful year for the course.'

Further details of the courses can be had by emailing paul.oreilly@setu.ie or luke.hardy@setu.ie.

Early application deadline through the CAO is February 1; late applications are accepted through the CAO until May 1.

62 SE909 BA Hons (Honours) in Sports Mgmt and Coaching (Football) Jan23 P03 (2).pdf

61 SE931 BA Sport Coaching and Business Mgmt (Football) Jan23 P03 (1).pdf