GERRY DAVIS: has assembled a strong squad for the UEFA Regions Cup Finals in Galicia

By EAMON SCOTT

THE FAI Amateurs' sights are firmly focussed on next Friday when they open their UEFA Regions Cup Finals against hosts Galicia in the Campo Municipal de Burgáns Pontevedra (6pm KO).

The Regions Cup finals is the pinnacle for grassroots amateurs and the tournament brings the top eight representatives from UEFA's 55 national affiliates in what has been described as the World's Best Amateur tournament.

Arguably, the game against Galicia is the toughest of openers the draw could conjure up in taking on the tournament's local side where an intimidating and hostile atmosphere no doubt awaits.

The wily and experienced Davis is undaunted by the challenge, swats that prospect away and simply states: "I'd rather be taking on Spain in the opening of a European Championships than missing out and that goes for all the players and the staff too."

WING WIZARD: Jimmy Carr of St Michael’s has a vast amount of experience in the UEFA Regions Cup

Although amateur in name, the execution of putting the cream of Irish grassroots football into action at the top table along with the seven other finals is thoroughly professional and a massive undertaking. Already 16 skips have departed for the teams base in advance of the squads departure on Bank Holiday Monday.

Covid-19 resulted in the 2021 finals being scrapped and the 2023 version sees the FAI Amateurs arrive with an unblemished record with victories over San Marino (2-0), Romania (4-0) and Bulgaria (1-0) in the Qualifying campaign which was hosted by the Bulgarians in Albena last October where the Boys in Green kept a clean sheet in all three matches.

Every Republic of Ireland manager will tell you how difficult it is to win international games and the three victory qualifying campaign was impressive against tough opposition, who, it should be stated, were unhinged to a degree by their internal disciplinary problems.

Jordan Buckley is a potent addition to the FAI Amateurs’ squad

Since that impressive showing over six months ago the squad has shown a few changes as a result of emigration and injury. Gone are Sam Burgess (Killester Donnycarney), AJ O'Connor (Fairview Rangers), Chris Smith (Aisling Annacotty) and the unfortunate Aaron Humphries (Kilbarrack United) who broke a bone in his foot in a freak accident in training with his club recently.

But when one door closes another opens and Dylan Connolly (Lucan United), Conor Coughlan (Fairview Rangers), Danny Aherne (Rockmount AFC) and Jordan Buckley (Usher Celtic) have all impressed to earn their place in Davis' final squad selection.

Rockmount AFC’s Brendan O’Connell will captain the squad in Spain

"It's the nature of squads over the years that you lose players and it's up to those who replace them to grab the opportunity and I'm happy with the players who have come in and while some have departed for work overseas, you'd feel for Aaron who has been excellent since he came in and I expect him to feature again when he recovers from his injury.

Geographically Davis has spread his net wide and it sees representation from all four provinces and that includes a first ever appearance by an Ulster duo in Lee McColgan (Cockhill Celtic) and Jack Parke (Bonagee United).

Adds Davis: "I'm delighted that Lee and Jack have made the squad. They are both excellent performers and I know they will make their club, their families and the Ulster Senior League proud."

Current FAI Intermediate Cup holders Rockmount AFC have six players included which is led by captain Brendan O'Connell who has been a star performer between the sticks for club and country as he approaches his 40th year but a great leader and a more than worthy skipper of the team.

"Brendan along with Jimmy Carr (St Michael's Tipperary) and Eoin Hayes (Newmarket Celtic) are the only three with previous UEFA Regions Cup Finals experience but Brendan is a great captain and a true leader as well as being one hell of a goalkeeper," says Davis emphatically.

Eoin Hayes (Newmarket Celtic) in action against Castilla Y Lyon in Istanbul 2017

And the head coach is on the money when he speaks of the qualities O'connell brings to his role as captain. For a guy whose day job is a barrister O'Connell is well used to advocacy and his rallying of the troops speeches are bordering on legendary status and the proud Munster Senior League netminder has won every competition he has ever played in and was recently named FAI Amateur Player of the Year - an accolade richly deserved.

In tournament football 'getting something' out of the first match is always a vital requisite in group games and Davis is fully aware of the need to extract a positive result from the meeting with Galicia.

Head coach Gerry Davis along with Jimmy McHugh (Oliver Bond Celtic) and Lee McColgan (Cockhill Celtic)

"All our resources and energies are concentrated on what happens on Friday. We will deal with the other games as they happen, but everything we are about is channeled into our opening game and I believe we have the resources and talent to come out of the match with a positive result."

The weather for Friday is threatening heavy showers and possible thunder in the Pontevedra locality but temperatures should not be a concern and the mild atlantic breezes will offer potential relief as opposed to the crucifying heat you could expect in the likes of La Mancha on the eastern Costas.

The FAI representatives have an impressive record in finals appearances winning on home soil back in 2015 thanks to David Lacey's memorable strike against Zagreb, but we also have finals appearances in 2017 in Istanbul and Braga in 2013 when on both occasions we came very close to claiming the gold medal.

Arguably the squad of 2023 is a more potent mix capable of going all the way to Regions Cup success

With no seedings of teams and other than the qualifying form the eight finalists have earned enroute to the finals, the only guideline you can offer is that all represented nations are the cream of Europe's best amateur footballers.

To be ranked within the top eight in Europe is an achievement in itself, but now that we have qualified, the target is to win it outright and bring the fabled trophy back to Irish shores.

Eoin Murphy is one of six Rockmount AFC players in the 20-man panel in Galicia

It's a given that all are heading to Galicia with a belief that they can lift the coveted trophy and scale the heights and claim the top honour on offer to the grade and the FAI Amateurs will be of a similar belief that they have enough in their armory to land the title.

Jack McMullan was on taget in the qualifiers while Aaron Humphries misses out through injury while AJ O’Connor and Sam Burgess are currently working overseas and unavailable

In the qualifying campaign in Bulgaria, one of the highlights was the excellent discipline shown by the Boys in Green. The squad averaged 2.76 yellows per game but the opposition had five red cards - San Marino 2, Romania 2 and Bulgaria one in what were all fesity affairs, but the Boys in Green did not waver in their focus. Discipline can by key and having to track hard yards with a man down in warm conditions is not ideal but fortunately in this tournament, it has not been a problem,

Every other side will include several debutants - Bosnia Herzegovina have never qualified before while holders Donoloski of Poland and Bavaria were the finalists in the most recent hosting of the competition (2019) and should have a bigger percentage of UEFA Regions Cup Finals campaigners.

The FAI Amateurs have many excellent players and it includes individuals who are game changers and match winners in their own right. Rockmount's sizeable presence of six is down to their dominance of the FAI Intermediate Cup as well as their domestic form where they have captured the MSL Senior Division crown, winning the league by ten points and only suffering one league defeat all campaign.

The potential front pairing of LSL duo Jimmy McHugh and Jordan Buckley is eagerly awaited. Lifelong friends and work colleagues McHugh was unfortunate to pick up an injury in Albena and saw no action but his goalscoring record is remarkable nad is champing at the bit for onfield time. Squad colleague Jordan Buckley has been courted by many League of Ireland clubs but has remained faithful to the Usher Celtic colours. His pace, trickery and goalscoring ability will be a handful for the sternest of defenders and has the ability to be the ace in the pack,

Another frontman in fine form is Eoin Hayes who recently led Clare' Newmarket Celtic to FAI Junior Cup glory and is alway capable of leading the line and finding the back of the net.

Manager Davis predicts a group that will be tight to the final whistle and the ability to grab opportunity when it arrives could be the key to unlocking the path to UEFA Regions Cup glory.

That's not to discount the talented midfield cohort with Stephen Chambers (Killester Donnycarney), Eoin Murphy (Rockmount AFC) and wing wizard Jimmy Carr (St Michael's Tipperary) all having an eye for goal and Chambers and Murphy both netted twice in the Bulgarian qualifiers while Luke Casey (Rockmount AFC) netted a memorable 40 yard goal against Wales in Turner's cross friendly.

Across the back, the statuesque Jack McMullan (Home Farm FC) netted in Bulgaria and always dangerous off set pieces while Malahide United's Glen Daly scored a brace in their successful recent LSL relegation battle with Glebe North.

So, there are lots of individuals capable of chipping in with goals and add in Gerry Davis' brilliant coaching and setpiece acumen and you have a squad well capable of claiming outright glory. To do so however is going to take a monumental effort from everyone involved - and a smidgen of luck may be required too!

The squad's recent one-nil defeat at the hands of the Basque Region is tempered by the fact that Davis was still looking at players and was far from his strongest starting eleven. Regardless, defeat is a rarity for the FAI Amateurs and that reversal on Spanish soil will be used positively to ensure that there are no repeats when the tournament kicks-off next Friday.

A mention too of Davis' backroom team who are well versed in navigating the difficult waters of international competition. Assistant coaches Chris McDonnell, Robbie Fay, Paul Doody and Ross Carrig bring a wealth of knowledge to the group while kitmen Terry Cassin and Tadgh O'Neill are senior figures who ensure the players' every needs are alway met.

"Dr Denis Slattery is a vital cog in the FAI Amateurs' well oiled machine. A sage and perceptive reader of the game his input is always valued and apart from that, he's an excellent doctor too who is well backed up by physio Pearse Foley - another veteran of many overseas campaigns apart from his domestic duties with St Michaels' of Tipperary among others.

Davis doesn't make excuses and he knows the challenge ahead is of massive proportions, but don't back against the FAI Amateurs claiming European glory in the north-west corner of Spain.

Here's hoping that the Boys in Green will be successful in their endeavours.

The best of luck from all at STRIKERONLINE in your pursuit. We're backing you all the way!

THE SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Brendan O Connell (Rockmount), Gary Cunningham (Westport United)

Defenders: Glen Daly (Malahide United), Jack McMullen (Home Farm), Lee McColgan (Cockhill Celtic), Jack Parke (Bonagee United), Adam Crowley (Rockmount), Dylan Connolly (Lucan United)

Midfielders: Stephen Chambers (Killester Donnycarney), Nathan Broderick (Rockmount), Luke Casey (Rockmount), Eoin Murphy (Rockmount), Adam Conway (Villa FC), Conor Coughlan (Fairview Rangers), Danny Ahearne (Rockmount), Jimmy Carr (St Michael’s)

Forwards: Eoin Hayes (Newmarket), Jimmy McHugh (Oliver Bond Celtic), Jordan Buckley (Usher Celtic), Derek Hyland (Kilbarrack United)

FIXTURES

FRIDAY JUNE 9

Group A: Galicia v FAI Amateurs, Campo Municipal de Burgáns-Pontevedra, 6PM

SUNDAY JUNE 11

Group A: FAI Amateurs vBavaria, Campo Municipal de Burgáns Pontevedra,4pm

WEDNESDAY JUNE 14

Group A: FAI Amateurs v Zeneca-Doboj (Bosnia Herzegovina) A Senra Stadium, Pontevedra, 6pm

A Senra Stadium

-Pontevedra

QUALIFYING CAMPAIGN

Group 6: FAI Amateurs 2 (Luke Casey 75, Eoin Murphy 81) San Marino 0,
FAI Amateurs 4 (Jack McMullan 37, Sam Burgess 53, Eoin Murphy 61, Stephen Chambers 68 pen), Prahova Muntienu (Rom) 0
FAI Amateurs 1 (Stephen Chambers 70) South West Bulgaria 0