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Alliance between Bohemians and St Kevin’s a model for cooperation.
In an ideal world, alliances between underage and League of Ireland clubs would work to the template set by St Kevin’s Boys and Bohemians.
The FAI did their best to diffuse tensions between the sectors over the onset of the national underage leagues by encouraging them to join forces to operate a hybrid model.It was the FAI’s method for letting the schoolboy outfits gently down from preventing them entering the Under-15 national league in their own right.
When pre-conditions are laid out, resentment is inevitable and many of the so-called partnerships between traditional underage clubs and their senior party were cosmetic and didn’t last.
The Saints and Bohemians have not alone lasted the distance since their inception in 2018 but have confirmed a two-year extension.According to St Kevin’s, the first club of Ireland legend Liam Brady in Santry, Dublin, this continuation debunks any rumours of the relationship being on the rocks.
“It was important to dispel doubts, harness experiences and know-how forming an alliance that would ultimately benefit both while not losing one’s identity in the process,” said Ken Donoghue, the club’s football director.
Keith Long’s record for promoting youth since his appointment as Bohs manager seven years ago has been crucial in validating the fusion..The list of young Saints graduate into the Bohs first-team since 2018 is a long one.
Amongst them are Evan Ferguson, who has really impressed since his move to Brighton, reigning PFAI Young Player of the Year Dawson Devoy and his Ireland U21 colleague Ross Tierney, who has just departed to join Motherwell in the SPFL.Jamie Mullins, who became the youngest goalscorer in the history of the club in FAI senior cup last season, is another of the alumni, as are Aaron Doran, Sean Grehan, Gavin O’Brien, Promise Omochere, James McManus, Jack Funge and Robbie Mahon.Three others who left to join UK clubs before Brexit last brought down the shutters on moving before the age of 16 were also on track for progression. David Okagbu, Bosun Lawal and Cian Kelly and Stoke City, Watford FC and Derby County respectively.
Daniel Mandriou, Daragh Leahy, Dylan Watts, Robbie McCourt and, most recently, Ryan Cassidy are other former Saints to have donned the Bohs colours after plotting their first professional forays in the UK.
In team competition, just as the partnership commenced, Bohemians won the FAI Under-19 league and competed in the Uefa Champions Youth League while the Under-17s finished runners-up.
Success has continued for the Gypsies in the Under-17 Mark Farren National Cup (2019) and Under-17 (2020) along with the most recent Under 15 title (2021).
Since that Under-15 league breakthrough in 2018, the age level of competition was reduced by the FAI to include Under-13s.
There’s renewed controversy over the start of this season’s Under-14 schedule but these two components remain undeterred in their intention to strengthen their bond.
Recruiting Craig Sexton as their new Academy manager in December creates a solid conduit between the parties.“I am here to help the whole process and to help everyone reach their potential,” said Sexton, who left the FAI coach education department for the new post.“I believe we can bring it to another level. We have a great working relationship with St Kevin’s for the last number of years, it has certainly been fruitful for everybody. We have benefited and they have benefited, so I am excited about continuing working with the guys.
“For young players developing at the moment, the resources and supports they have now at academy level are unbelievable compared to what went before.“We are lucky to have that, we are lucky to be able to support the development of young players.“We are in a much better place in terms of facilities available to us. We have the use of St Kevin’s resources at Shanowen Road and St Aidan’s school while Bohemians have a first-class training facility at DCU.“Everything is on site now, everything is catered for. It is night and day compared to what I played in at that age.”
Sexton was a goalkeeper in the same international squad of Robbie Brady and Jeff Hendrick, two former Kevin’s players who have gone on to represent their country with distinction.Jack Byrne was another to follow soon after and while he’s tasked with tormenting Bohs as the talisman of Shamrock Rovers, there’s a mutual respect about his upbringing.
“We’re two elite clubs operating out of the northside of Dublin,” said Long.“We both have a reputation for bringing talent through and have the same vision. You only have to look at the calibre of player St Kevin’s have produced in the past to see that.”
SEE BELOW FOR THE FULL TEXT OF THE IRISH EXAMINERS ARTICLE
When two clubs or organisations - even clubs that have a wide and broad experience and have enjoyed success in Irish soccer at different levels over many years - come together to dip their toe into unchartered but hopefully mutually beneficial waters there is always a degree of scepticism apprehension and doubt that parties might feel they would suffer a loss of identity. It was important to dispel those doubts and harness those experiences and know how into forming an alliance that would ultimately benefit both while not losing ones identity in the process.
From the initial discussions in 2017 through to the first SKB/BOHS team taking part in the U15 National League in March 2018 a lot of these doubts and fears were discussed and debated and assurances put in place that the mutually beneficial aspects of the link far outweighed the negativity and these discussions produced a clearly defined pathway for elite players from the youngest age at foundation level right through to the Airtricity Premier League division and beyond, while at the same time St Kevin’s Boys and Bohemians provide football outside of elite level and encouragement is given by both clubs to players outside of elite level to improve and progress to the Academy squads.
Just as the partnership got underway Bohemians won the FAI under-19 league and competed in the UEFA Champions Youth League while the under-17s finished runners-up in the League. Success has continued with wins at National level in the under 17 Mark Farren National Cup in 2019 and under 17 League in 2020 along with the most recent under 15 National League title in 2021. We have also been runners up over the past three years in the National under 19 League and Cup and the under 17 and 15 Leagues.
The link between both Clubs has been greatly helped by the fact that the first team manager Keith long has always given young players a chance to play in his first team if good enough, and he has been a staunch supporter of the link since it’s inception and this quote at the launch has been followed through:
"We're two elite clubs operating out of the northside of Dublin. We both have a reputation for bringing talent through, so the potential is clear. We both have the same vision and we believe we can work really well together. From a footballing point of view, this deal makes sense for both of us. One only have to look at the calibre of player St Kevin's have produced in the past to see that.”
The list of young underage Academy players that have graduated into the Bohemians first team since 2017/18 is a long one. Evan Ferguson who has really impressed since his move to Brighton, Dawson Devoy who was named PFAI young player of the year for 2021, Ross Tierney who has just left to join Motherwell, Jamie Mullins who became the youngest goalscorer in the history of the club in FAI Senior Cup last season, Aaron Doran, Sean Grehan, Gavin O’Brien, Promise Omochere, James Mc Manus, Jack Funge & Robbie Mahon.
David Okagbu, Bosun Lawal & Cian Kelly left to join UK Clubs – Stoke City, Watford FC & Derby County respectively without having featured in the Bohs first team but no doubt would have had they remained.
As well as benefiting from SKB players that have come through the Academy set up in the past couple of years Bohemians first team have also benefited from a number of SKB players who having previously left SKB to go to UK Clubs were encouraged and convinced that Bohemians was the place for them to resume their football careers – examples of such players were: Daniel Mandriou, Luke Wade Slater, Daragh Leahy, Dylan Watts, Philip Gannon & Robbie Mc Court and latterly Ryan Cassidy
The appointment of new Academy manager Craig Sexton is a welcome one as he has been involved as under 19 manager previously and is fully aware and supportive of the link between the Clubs and he sees the benefits of this as he says himself that -“I am here to help the whole process and to help everyone reach their potential. I believe we can bring it to another level. That is the plan; to support all areas of youth football at the club, boys and girls as well as with our League of Ireland partners at St Kevin’s. We have a great working relationship with St Kevin’s for the last number of years it has certainly been fruitful for everybody. We have benefited and they have benefited, so I am excited about continuing working with the guys. For young players developing at the moment, the resources and supports they have now at academy level are unbelievable compared to what went before. We are lucky to have that, we are lucky to be able to support the development of young players. We are in a much better place in terms of facilities available to us. We have the use of St Kevin’s resources at Shanowen Road and St Aidan’s, and Bohemians have a first-class training facility at DCU. Everything is on site now, everything is catered for. It is night and day compared to what I played in at that age.
We look forward to the future confident in the fact that what we have achieved up to now is just the beginning and both clubs will continue to work together to plan further progress both on and off the pitch.
The strength of the link has grown so much in the past five years that both Clubs have agreed an extension for a further two seasons with options to continue beyond that so any doubts, rumours or negativity surrounding the future of the link between the two Clubs should well and truly dispelled at this stage and we look forward to continued success for our players.