Sunderland snap up Cork teen McCarthy

Skibbereen teenager Steven McCarthy has been handed a scholarship contract with Premier League side Sunderland.

McCarthy, son of former O’Donovan Rossa and Cork football star Mick ‘Small Mick’ McCarthy, will join Sunderland’s U18 squad prior to the start of the 2012-13 season.

Former Skibbereen chairman Declan Newman, who coached McCarthy as a youngster, last night expressed his delight at the news.

“The club is absolutely delighted with this,’’ Newman said.

“It’s a great boost for the club and a feather in the cap that all the hard work that you put into the club and the coaching does pay off.

“Steve always had the extra bit. He had this great ability to take a tackle or a knock and spring back up again and keep going. He always had that. Great attitude, do anything for you. If you told him to run around the pitch five times he’d do it.

“He’d also ask the question. Other guys would be too embarrassed to ask the question or feel silly but he wouldn’t be bothered with that, he’d want to find out. A very honest fella.

“He was a striker, always an eye for a goal but he’d cover a lot of ground. He’d come back and help out and go forward and he’d sometimes try to do too much. He be on the right wing as well and non-stop, always go, always up for it.’’

McCarthy is one of six players to be offered a scholarship at Sunderland and Academy manager Ged McNamee says the new intake have a big task ahead of them.

“We are delighted to be able to welcome our new U18 intake,” he told Sunderland’s website.

“We have high hopes for them and the club’s Academy will continue to set exacting standards which they must work hard to meet.

“Hard work and dedication are vital for any footballer and they are certainly traits we will be expecting to see from the new players.”