Irish Team Named For 2016 Homeless World Cup Finals

Ireland prepare for Homeless World Cup Finals

Teams representing 52 countries will compete in the Homeless World Cup in Glasgow between the 10th and 16th of July.

This inspiring event plays a major role in changing the lives of those marginalised by homelessness, addiction, poverty and long-term unemployment. Through the Irish Homeless Street Soccer League, ireland has been sending a team to this event since the inaugural competition in 2003: this year the build-up to picking and finalising the squad was no mean feat.

‘Things are always a bit fraught until the squad is picked, as there is so much skill out there,’ says Sean Kavanagh, Big issue editor and founder of the Street Soccer League. ‘This year’s All Ireland was no exception. We had nearly three hundred lads playing, so choosing the final team out of all that talent wasn’t easy.’

The team wasi introduced to the Lord Mayor Cllr Criona Ni Dulaigh at a reception in the Mansion House last Monday. The team comes from all over Ireland – two from Waterford, three from Dublin, one each from Limerick, Longford and Cork.
Coach Tommy Morgan who played for Blackburn Rovers at the age of sixteen, is optimistic

‘This is a good team. We’ve a few young lads, a few older lads with experience and a good goalie, a real shot-stopper,’ Morgan smiles. ‘We are hopeful. They are good lads so if we can keep them focused, we’ll be grand.. We’re going over there to do well; I’ll be pushing these guys to do as well as they can.

Ireland are seeded eight in this year’s competition, which is proof of the stardard of their play in previous World Cups. No player can compete more than once in the Homeless World Cup, thus opening the competition for a place to new players each year. it is particulary challenging for Coach Thomas Morgan who is phlisophical about it
“ It is what it is, it creates oppertunities for players but it is also a challenge for me, to get the side both physically and tactically prepared in a short priod of time, last year we reach a final and moved up the rankings so we’re moving in the right direction”

Ireland will meet, Sweden, USA, Bulgaria, Greece, Lithuaina In the group stage which will offer tough competition to our progression. And what of our chances

As Kavanagh says “Our lads have overcome many obstacles in their lives , they have the skillset, they’ll be playing for their country wih pride and passion, there’ll be no bonuses to be shared around, no entourages, or luxuary hotels, they’e playing for Ireland !”

Article written by & sent into Sport4Development Ireland from the Irish Street League Media Dept.

This year’s Irish Team line up is as follows:

John Farrell ( GoalKeeper) Ballyfermot , Dublin 10. age 39
Michael Mcdonagh Ardnacassa, Longford. ( 21)
Jason Martyn, Dominick Street, Dublin 7 ( 40)
Dean Anthony O’Connell Mayfield, CorK. (21)
Adrian James Power Captain ( 30)
Adam Patrick Caulfield Waterford. ( 21)
Colin McCarthy Cork Road, Waterford, (20)
Jamie Geoghegan Clondalkin, Dublin (21)
Sean Kavanagh (Group Manager)
Thomas Morgan (Team Coach)
Graham Tucker (Fitness Coach)
John Dowling (welfare Coach)