Koevermans: U19 league can stop players defecting to GAA

THE Football Association of Ireland’s High Performance Director, Wim Koevermans, believes the new U19 national league can help stem a talent drain from soccer to Gaelic football.

League of Ireland sponsors Airtricity were yesterday unveiled as sponsors for a league which, 10 games into its inaugural season, sees Cork City top the Elite Division, two points clear of Waterford United.

Koevermans welcomed Airtricity’s sponsorship, saying the introduction of an U19 league was an important development for elite players from the FAI’s Emerging Talent programme, giving them the opportunity to develop further with the benefit of coaching, facilities and competition at top clubs.