Eddie Kenny on taking an Irish team into European action: Being organised was key

Eddie Kenny and the Irish Defence Forces soccer team recently returned from the CISM World Games 2027 European Qualifiers in RKVVO Veldhoven, just outside Eindhoven, Holland.

There were eight countries involved: Holland, Germany, Spain, France, Cyprus, Armenia, Luxembourg and Ireland. This was broken down into two groups of four nations with the top two of each group qualifying for a playoff to go to the World Games. 

Former Rockmount manager Eddie Kenny and his backroom team started their preparations for this tournament with all the players as back in January. They put the players through two six-week fitness programs at the Curragh Camp.

"I have to thank all the team for putting in the hard yards since early January and whatever my management team and myself put them through, they simply put their heads down and got to work.

“We prepared with a fitness assessment and programming for the players in early January in the DFTC in the Curragh Camp. From that, the players had a six-week fitness program to work on. From there then, we entered into another six-week camp in mid-February. 

"We structured our challenge games to try mimic the different potential opposition that we could end up playing in Holland.

“We played games against the Irish Colleges and Universities, Bohemian FC, St Patrick's Athletic, Leinster FA, Munster FA, Villa FC and Fermoy FC. We took those games because we wanted to be able to switch styles and formations. 

"Some games were back-to-back, which we knew was going to happen over in Veldhoven so that was great preparation work for the squad.

We also knew before we went over that we were the smallest nation player-wise. 

"As a Defence Forces, with only 6,000 troops compared to Germany, France and others, we knew we needed to be super fit, well organised, functional at set-pieces both attacking and defending. 

Driven

"We also had to show a great attitude when we would be under huge pressure without possession for  long periods of time. We worked on defending as a block without dropping too deep while also working on attacking in transition in four- and five-second breakouts."

The tournament took place over a week in late March with the Irish lads doing the Country and the Irish Defence Forces very proud.

They flew over on the Sunday from Dublin, played Armenia on Monday and won 1-0. They played Germany on the Tuesday and drew 0-0. 

They had a rest day on the Wednesday and played Spain on Thursday where we drew 1-1. 

"Both Germany, Spain and ourselves were all level on five points each. Germany topped on goal difference and we beat Spain on penalties to advance to the playoff game against France. Unfortunately, we were beaten 2-1 in the playoff final by France who scored the winning goal with four minutes remaining in the game.

“My biggest takeaway from this tournament was, how much we can improve and step up by being really organised. We drew players from all over the island, different units, corps and teams. 

"To a man, they embraced what we asked of them, even when results pre-tournament didn’t reflect what we could see what was happening. We had a plan and stuck to that. Staff, players and the Defence Forces believed in what we were saying and seeing.

“CISM is the World Military Sports Games, 90% are full-time athletes, that had former and present Olympians and ex-footballers. Having played at World Games and international level with Defence Forces Ireland and now to have coached at that level again, it was a full circle moment for myself. 

"To be coaching against ex full time Professionals and current Football Association staff of various Countries and see what we as a staff have tried to implement and see some of that work out there is a joy to behold,” Kenny added.

This tournament gave Kenny the appetite to get back involved at local level again after a hugely successful stint with Rockmount.

He has just been appointed new gaffer with Leeds AFC men’s senior team for the coming season and his backroom staff are the experienced Derek Power, Danny O’Leary, Shane Healy and Ryan Healy.