Soccer
Matthew Foy Wears Green
By Paul Byrne & Pat Quigley
26, May 2014 - 09:36

Local lad pulls on the green jersey on home turf in Milebush Park this June Bank Holiday Weekend

The Irish Cerebral Palsy Development squad will participate in this year's CP Development Home Nations Championships. The Football Association will host the event this year in Milebush Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo from Friday 30th May to Sunday 1st June. This is the first occasion the tournament has been hosted outside of the Dublin area. The Boys in Green will go up against Scotland and Northern Ireland over the weekend in their attempt to retain the trophy they won last year in this very tournament in England.

This development squad is part of a player pathway supporting the Irish Senior International Cerebral Palsy squad who compete in European, World and Paralympic Competitions over a 4 year cycle. A number of these players may very well be competing in the Rio Paralympic games in September 2016.

The team is managed by Mr. Ricky Treacy: " These home nations are the pinnicle of the year for the development squad giving the players involved the opportunity impress the Senior CP International manger JJ Glynn. JJ will be at the event for its duration and his senior squad competes in the CPISRA European Championships in Portugal at the end of July this summer. A number of these players are still in the reckoning for a place in the 14 man squad."

In a nice twist local hero Matthew Foy will pull on the green jersey in his own back yard following on from his very successful tournament last year in England. Following his receipt of last years' sports personality of the year Matthew will claim two more international caps this June bank holiday weekend in Milebush Park.

The schedule of matches is as follows:

Friday 30th May - Ireland V Scotland (KO 3pm)
Saturday 31st May - Ireland V Manulla FC (KO TBC)
Saturday 31st May - N. Ireland V Scotland (KO 3pm)
Sunday 1st June - Scotland V Manulla FC (KO TBC)
Sunday 1st June - Ireland V N. Ireland (KO 12.30pm)

Due to the withdraw of England at the last minute local club Manulla FC U-16/17 have agreed to play a friendly game against Ireland and Scotland on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

CP Development Squad

Players:

Dara Costello
Kieran Devlin
Jimmy Naughton
Dillion O'Brien
Dillion Devlin
Padraig Leacey
Josh Treacy
Dara Ruane
Dave Rodgers
Matt Foy
Dillion Greer
Ger Craven
Sam Carroll
JP Wixted

Management:

Ricky Treacy - Manager
Aidan Brennan - Coach
Dan Byrne - Coach