CWSSL U15 squad and Coerver link up on memorable trip to England over Easter

The newly formed coaching partnership between Coerver Coaching and the CWSSL saw a talented squad of U15 players spend a week training and playing football in London, under the eye of world class coaches in an elite environment recently over Easter.

This was a joint effort led by Cork City legends Denis Behan and Denis Coughlan, now of Coerver, alongside CWSSL chairperson Brian Murphy and committee member Linda Montgomery, as they look offer bring the game to local players looking to experience it at the highest level.

Together, they organised a training camp alongside some of the best young players in the UK, many of which are attached to leading women’s Super League clubs in the UK.

“We did a deal with the league, obviously, back in October last year and part of that deal was that we’d bring experiences and new opportunities to the girls,” said Behan.

“So, this U15 group that we put together, we knew that some of those girls might have had aspirations to go to Cork City or Cobh Ramblers when the split happened.

“And there was obviously nothing for them when that split happened. 

"So, there was no inter-league at U15s because City or Cobh take the girls at December time.

“So, when we were speaking with the league, we said, as a very first starter piece, it'd be great to give those girls something to look forward to like a trip to England, even if it didn't work out with their football plans as to where they thought they might be at this moment.” 

That led to a training programme every week and the trip to London, where the U15s faced top opposition from across the United Kingdom after the squad was selected by coaches Carissa Sheehan and Laura Finlay.

“Over in the UK Coerver sits underneath the academy groups,” Behan explained.

“So, you'll have the top-tier academies with Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs, Brighton, Brentford, etc. 

"They all have their top-tier academies, but underneath that you have some girls that are just not there yet, but they're better than the local standard.

“So, what'll happen is those top-tier academies come and Coerver take those girls and they will play in what's called a Junior Premier League, a JPL side. 

"So, they'll play with a JPL team, but they'll also train with Coerver and may also go in and train with Brighton, Chelsea, Arsenal, etc.

“But they're not just at the academy level just yet. 

"So, it's more kind of like a feeder, intermediary piece. 

"So, I suppose the best way to describe it really is if I use this rugby example.  You're on the Munster squad, but you can still go back and play with your club, say Cork Con, so you can keep developing. 

"They can go up again if  their performances get better or they worked on whatever piece they were doing wrong.” 

There was even a game with Chelsea featuring a joint Ireland and Scotland selection, and Lily Foley, Maggie Halihane, and Sarah Cahill represented the CWSSL.

The makeshift group won and Lily Foley from Carrigaline scored twice, including the winner.

Brian Murphy, as CWSSL chairperson, was one of those that helped make the programme and the event in England a huge success for all the players, coaches and parents, that went on the trip with their daughters.

Adrian Ryan of Sports Gear Direct also generously sponsored the gear worn by the players while they were in London.

“Adrian Ryan is always a great help to the CWSSL, and we thank him for his generous sponsorship of the girls' gear for this trip to England,” Murphy said.

“It was great to have him on board. The girls looked absolutely fantastic over there, decked out in their new gear. 

"They had tracksuits, t-shirts, they were left wanting for nothing.

“So, we were absolutely delighted and I'm hoping we continue our partnership with Adrian for the next couple of years.”