Dave Connell fears Irish women's game not backed for soccer success

  SILKY SKILLS: Ireland U19 head coach Dave Connell at a media event to confirm their European Championship qualifiers in October will be held in Limerick. Picture: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Dave Connell says it will take a Euro ’88 type qualification breakthrough by the Ireland’s senior team to avoid the women’s game slipping further behind their peers.

The Ireland U19 manager for the past decade is concerned that the absence of a professional structure for budding talent is stunting international progress.