Information on Girl’s football

SKFC On Tour

Following on from our U12 and 13 teams visit to Manchester United earlier this month the coming weeks sees a number of SKFC teams taking part in tournaments and friendly games in Spain, England and Northern Ireland.

Our U13 Premier team head to Majorca to take part in the prestigious East Mallorca Cup with teams from Brazil, Mexico, Turkey, Denmark, United States, Germany, Japan, Australia and England including Manchester City and top Spanish sides – Espanyol, Barcelona, RCD Mallorca, Atletico Bilbao among others.

Our 13 Sun 1 head to Salou to take part in the Cost Daurada Cup from April 2nd – April 6th

John Behan is taking his Saturday U14 Premier team to Blackpool to play in a tournament involving Blackpool, Fleetwood Town and Welsh team TSN.

We return again to Oakham in Leicestershire with our U10’s & U11’s from April 9th – April 12th where their opposition will include Manchester United, Newcastle United, Leicester City, Stoke City, Watford, Nottingham Forest, Norwich City, Sunderland AFC, Shrewsbury Town and Kyoto FA (Japan) among others.

Our Sunday 12.1 will be making a flying visit to Blackburn where they will play Blackburn Rovers and Burnley.

All of these trips  greatly benefit  players and coaches as they get to play quality opposition in top class facilities, experience different cultures and styles which is all part of the learning process.

Pictured below is a team photo of SKFC in December 2016 during a visit to play Real Madrid among others in the Festive Naviadad  which includes some easily recognisable faces who have gone on to further their careers.

SKFC In The Elite Norther Ireland Supercup 2023

We are delighted to have been accepted into this year’s Norther Ireland Super Cup (formerly known as the Milk Cup). Our current U16 DDSL Premier side managed by Donie Bermingham and John Fulham will be taking part in the tournament which kicks off with the opening ceremony on July 23rd in Coleraine and concludes with the finals day on Friday July 28th.  The games will be played across three NI County Council areas – Causeway Coast & Glens, Mid & East Antrim and Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council.

The full Supercup press release is below:

Recently crowned Carabao Cup winners Manchester United will once again be on their way to SuperCupNI later on in the summer.

The Old Trafford giants are one of the headline acts in a 16 strong Premier Section and after success in the Junior category last summer, the Red Devils will be aiming to secure their first Premier title since 2014.

Indeed, one of the stars of their last success in 2014, Marcus Rashford, has gone on to become a global star and is currently one of Europe’s in form strikers.

United are joined in the Premier Section by Carabao Cup runners-up Newcastle United and Brighton and Hove Albion, who are making their debut at the tournament.

SuperCupNI chairman Victor Leonard said Manchester United’s support for the tournament is testament to how well respected it is among decision makers at Old Trafford.

“Over our 40-year history, we have been incredibly well supported by Manchester United and in the past the tournament has acted as a launchpad for their young players to go on and make their mark for the first team.

“They are always incredibly well supported at the tournament and attract large crowds at every game.

“I know from the conversations we have on a regular basis with Nick Cox, head of the academy, that it is a tournament their young players look forward to and they are told about how the likes of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Elanga used their experiences at the tournament to progress into the first team and become household names.”

The Old Trafford side are joined in the tournament by Newcastle United, who last appeared at the tournament in 2019 when they were defeated by a classy Valencia side.

Leonard said it was exciting to see two further Premier League sides confirm their place in the Premier Section.

“Over the last decade we have been well supported by Newcastle United and they have a rich history in the tournament. It is also exciting to see Brighton and Hove Albion making their debut. They have had a real breakthrough year in the Premier League and the model they have in place at the club focuses on bringing through young players and providing them with opportunities to perform in the Premier League.”

Scottish giants Rangers also confirmed their place in the Premier Section. The Glaswegian outfit were runners-up last year in the Junior tournament and first team manager Michael Beale is a huge supporter of the tournament and he brought over teams from Chelsea when he was involved with their Academy.

A Surf select side from the United States is joined by North East Rush who primarily attract players from the North East coast of the United States and will make their debut in the male section having played in the female section last summer.

Japanese side Inchifuna will return to the tournament for the first time since 2018 and they are joined by Liga MX side Tigres UANL from Monterrey who are one of Mexico’s biggest clubs and they will challenge for honours in what is a hotly contested Premier category.

The six home area representatives will all have their sights progressing to the latter stages of the tournament and they are joined by a further two teams – a select team from the Dundalk Schoolboys League who are long time supporters of the tournament and renowned Dublin side St Kevins FC.

The Dubliners are widely recognised as having one of the best youth set ups on the island with the likes of Robbie Brady, Jeff Hendricks, Liam Brady and Damien Duff along with rising star Evan Ferguson who have all starred for the Whitehall based set up.  In their last appearance back in 2007 the Dubliners with Robbie Brady and Jeff Hendricks in their line up made it all the way to the junior decider before losing out 1-0 to Chivas from Mexico.

More International Call-Up’s For SKFC Players

Two Ireland squad announcements today at under 19 and 21 sees a host of ex-SKFC players included in both groups.

In the 19’s group are Sam Curtis, Sean Grehan, John Ryan, Justin Ferizaj, James McManus and Kevin Zefi while the under 21’s include goalkeepers Jimmy Corcoran and Josh Keeley along with Tayo Adaramola, Bosun Lawal, Killian Phillips and Armstrong Oko-Flex while last weeks successful Republic of Ireland under 17 team included Danny McGrath and Nickson Okosun.

Three SKFC Players In LFA Inter Provincial Squad

Congratulations to Noel Dunne, Sam Linehan and Byron Preston who have been selected in the Leinster Football Association youth team squad for the upcoming Inter Provincial series.

Draws For National Cup

The draw for the SFAI under 12 national cup quarter final sees our 12 premier team drawn at home to Knocknacarra FC from Galway – the full draw is;

1. St Kevin’s FC v Knocknacarra FC

2. Castlerea Celtic v Shamrock Rovers

3. Kilcock Celtic v Evergreen FC

4. Kilnamanagh AFC v Aishling Annacotty

Semi – Final; 1 v 4   2 v 3.

Following their win yesterday over Crumlin United in the FAI under 17 cup semi-final our 17 premier side will play Cherry Orchard FC on April 2nd – time and venue to be decided.

We have two teams still in contention in the SFAI National Trophy competitions at under 14 and 15.

Our 14 Premier team are on the road again this time to Charleville FC in Cork following their 2-0 win on Saturday away to Athenry FC while our 15 major are at home to St Patricks Boys.

12’s Reach National Cup Quarter-final

Our under 12 DDSL Premier team reached the quarter final of the SFAI National cup this afternoon when defeating Limerick’s Fairview Rangers 5-0 at St Aidans making it a day to remember for coach Ciaran Burke who is also coach to our under 17’s who earlier today reached the FAI under 17 cup final with a dramatic win against Crumlin United.

There were no dramatics attached to this win as they were in control all through – leading 2-0 at half time – and running out comfortable winners to go into tomorrows last 8 draw.

The goals today came from Jamie Costigan, Rocco Lawlor, Darragh Nolan, Donal O’Hanlon and Cole Curtis.

17’s Reach FAI Under 17 Final

One nil down at half time and two down midway through the second half it looked like Crumlin United were going to replicate their league win  a fortnight ago against our under 17 premier side and this time knock them out of the FAI Under 17 cup in this mornings semi-final at St Aidans.

Sam Dunne pulled one back with a superb strike from close range that went in off the underside of the crossbar to give them a lifeline and they made the most of it just before the end of normal time when Karl Hearns (pictured) nervelessly smashed home a penalty.

At that stage it looked like the game was going to extra time and maybe penalties but man of the match Adetunji Olusanya or TJ as he is known by rose highest to meet a corner from the left in the fifth minute of injury to bury a header into the roof of the Crumlin United net. There was a further four minutes of additional time played but the hard fought lead was never going to be relinquished.

Congratulations to all of the squad and the staff on a great result.

18’s Move On In Leinster Youth Cup

Our under 18 premier team put last weeks disappointing result in the FAI Youths cup behind them when they defeated local rivals Home Farm 2-1 in extra time last night in the Leinster Youths cup at St Aidans.

Weekend Cup Results

Our 17 Premier booked a place in the quarter final of the FAI U17 Cup with a 5-0 win over Ballyraine FC from Donegal at St Aidans with goals from Thalaga Segoapa, Jack Mc Dermott, Fuhad Kareem, Logan O’Connell and Jack Allen.

Also through to the next round of the SFAI U12 Cup are our Saturday Premier team following their 3-1 win over Leicester Celtic but our 15 Premier failed in their effort to reach the last 32 when a late Home Farm goal proved the only goal of the game in a tight encounter.

Our 15 Major, 16 B1 and 12 Sunday 2  recorded wins in their respective SFAI Trophy Cup games but our 12 Sunday 1 team went out of the SFAI National Cup to a very strong Shamrock Rovers team.

Our Senior Sunday team kept up their push for promotion with a 2-2 away draw against promotion rivals Ayrefield United.

SKB Players Abroad – Progress Report

With the turn of the year and the deserved headlines that Evan Ferguson is making in the Premier league with his performances and goals for Brighton it’s worthwhile exercise to have a brief look at where some of our younger former players are at in their careers abroad having moved on from SKB.

No doubt the big headline maker is Evan Ferguson who made his full international debut in November and whose goals and performances for Brighton have captured everyone’s attention and rightly so.

Evan’s former team-mate at SKB Jamie Mullins has now joined up with him at Brighton and will be hoping to impress once he settles in.

Other former team-mates of theirs in what was an excellent SKB side – Sean Grehan and David Okagbue are both performing excellently at under 23 level at Crystal Palace and Stoke City respectively while Killian Phillips has gone on loan from Crystal Palace to Shrewsbury Town for the rest of the season.

Fiachra Pagel whose move to Blackpool last summer fell through has joined Forest Green Rovers and will be looking to make up for lost time while Bosun Lawel is a regular member of Celtic’s first team squad having already made his first team debut. Cian Kelly and Eric Yoro are making their way at Derby County and Bolton Wanderers.

Dara O’Shea has been a stand out performer for West Bromwich Albion for a couple of seasons now and he became the clubs youngest ever captain when appointed last season.

Dan Mandriou has overcome injury problems to become a first team regular at Lincoln City and will be hoping to break into the Irish international squad soon if he stays injury free. Dawson Devoy and Darragh Burns along with club captain Warren O’Hora are regulars at MK Dons.

With such a strong selection of centre backs avail to Stephe Kenny Jimmy Dunne can consider himself unlucky that his excellent performances for QPR have not been rewarded with a cap.

Gavin Kilkenny is on loan to Stoke City from Bournemouth where injuries have stalled his progress but Ross Tierney continues to impress as a first team regular with Motherwell FC.

Bristol Rovers is home to Trevor Clarke and Jamie Egan while in Italy Kevin Zefi continues his progress at Inter Milan and John Ryan recently joined Seria A club Sassuola.

We wish them all the best of luck and freedom from injury as they continue their careers.

Another days article will be tracking our ex-players playing in the League of Ireland.