INTRODUCTION:

The Airtricity League has produced many stars over the years, with the likes of Roy Keane, Kevin Doyle and Paul McGrath going on to play at the very highest level. Producing players capable of competing on the national and international stage is what each Airtricity League club aspires to, which is why so much emphasis is being placed on youth development.

The introduction of the Under-21 Airtricity League a number of years ago led to a huge increase in the number of young players making the breakthrough to the senior league. This league was changed from an Under-21 competition to an Under-20 competition for the first time in 2008 and clubs are already reaping the benefits, with a number of youth players being promoted to first team squads.

The inaugural Under-20 League of Ireland was won by Cork City, after the Rebel Army defeated Bohemians 1-0 in the final on January 25th. The goalscorer in that match, Paul Deasy, has since been rewarded with a two-year full-time contact with Cork City.

There is now a clear ladder for young footballers in the Airtricity League to climb: from the youth team a player moves to the Under-20 league and then into the A Championship side, before finally making the breakthrough into the senior team. League clubs now have clear pyramid structures for their best young talent to work through.

2009 SEASON:

The Under-20 Airtricity League is divided into four regional pools, with the top two teams from each pool qualifying for the quarter finals of the competition. The competition final is scheduled for November 8th.

The tables are as follows:

Pool One:

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P W D L F A GD PTS

U.C.D. 10 10 0 0 33 4 +29 30

Bray Wanderers 10 6 2 2 21 7 +14 20

St. Patrick’s Athletic 10 5 1 4 21 16 +5 16

Shamrock Rovers 10 4 1 5 14 17 -3 13

Athlone Town 10 1 2 7 8 32 -24 5

Longford Town 10 0 2 8 7 28 -21 2

Pool Two

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P W D L F A GD PTS

Wexford Youths 8 5 1 2 15 9 +6 16

Limerick 8 4 1 3 10 9 +1 13

FC Carlow 8 4 1 3 9 10 -1 13

Cork City 8 3 1 4 11 13 -2 10

Waterford United 8 2 0 6 13 17 -4 6

Pool Three:

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P W D L F A GD PTS

Derry City 10 8 2 0 30 11 +19 26

Salthill Devon 10 6 3 1 30 13 +17 21

Mervue United 9 4 3 2 21 11 +10 15

Castlebar Celtic 10 3 1 6 11 22 -11 10

Sligo Rovers 10 1 2 7 7 27 -20 5

Finn Harps 9 1 1 7 10 25 -15 4

Pool Four

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P W D L F A GD PTS

Sporting Fingal 10 7 0 3 28 13 +15 21

Drogheda United 10 7 0 3 28 14 +14 21

Shelbourne 10 4 3 3 19 18 +1 15

Bohemians 8 3 3 2 13 12 +1 12

Dundalk 9 2 3 4 18 27 -9 9

Monaghan United 9 0 1 8 6 28 -22 1