Shiels keen to acknowledge Inishowen links as Candy Stripes visit Clonmany this Sunday

Derry City boss Kenny Shiels is looking forward to the opportunity to acknowledge the growing underage links between his club and Inishowen when they visit Jackie Crossan Premier Division leaders Clonmany Shamrocks this Sunday (Kick off 2pm).

Players from all over the peninsula represented City at Under 19 and Under 17 level in the Airtricity League this season and Shiels has already handed the Carndonagh pair of Sam Todd and Cathal Farren and Aileach ‘keeper Mark McElhinney their first team debuts in recent friendlies.

“We’ve got a great relationship with Inishowen and this is a chance to hopefully strengthen that and give something back to the local people there,” he told the Inish Times.

“There are obviously strong links already with Donal O’Brien from Cockhill as our First Team Coach and Buncrana’s Gary Duffy is working with our underage sides so we have good people working on the ground there.

“Youngsters from Inishowen only have to look at the example of Stephen McLaughlin at Clonmany to see what opportunities exist at Derry City for players with potential.”

With a reduced budget to spend on bringing in fresh faces, the liklihood that underage players will be given their chance in the first team next season has increased and Shiels has been impressed by what he has seen so far.

“Young Sam Todd is a defender who is coming on really well for us and I’ve been pleased with the progress of Mark McElhinney and Cathal Farren as well,” he continued.

“There is a recruitment angle to every game we play at underage level, the club doesn’t have the money to spend on players that we did in the past which will present opportunities for good young players to make their mark.”