St Francis’s dream team being snapped up

By Stephen Leonard

ST FRANCIS FC has seen a number of their young stars begin a new phase of their careers with League of Ireland clubs and across channel.

Jack Connolly recently penned a three-year deal with Sunderland and made an impressive debut with their Under 18s in a pre-season 4-0 win over Gateshead.

Setting up the third goal and playing his part in the build-up to the fourth, the young central midfielder has made an immediate impact with his new club and will be hoping to build on that in further pre-season fixtures against Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United.

Making the move is a major achievement for the Clondalkin lad who had missed most of the Under 15 season through injury, but battled his way back and even scored the winner in his side’s League Cup Final.

He was even a member of the Ireland Under 16 squad that won the UEFA Development Tournament in Hungary earlier in the year.

Also on that squad was his former St Francis clubmate Cian Hughes who recently signed for St Patrick’s Athletic’s Under 17 National League squad.

Picking up a knee injury in Francis’ League Cup victory over Belvedere, he has been ruled out of action for a number of weeks, but will eventually prove a major addition to the Inchicore side.

Charlie Smith has made the move to UCD’s Under 17s while Conor Fitzharris and Jake Byrne have signed for the equivalent at Shamrock Rovers and Bray Wanderers respectively.

Meanwhile four players from the club, namely Dylan Connolly, Charlie Barry, Adam McCall and Jordan Walker have signed for Shelbourne Under 17s.