THE West Cork Academy must overcome Clare to reach this season’s SFAI U14 Schoolboys National Inter-League Trophy decider.

Shaun Hough’s U14 squad has enjoyed a productive campaign and are one victory away from contesting an SFAI National Inter-League final.

Whoever emerges from West Cork’s away clash with Clare Schoolboys League will take on either Limerick County or Carlow in this year’s decider.

West Cork finished third in Group A of the opening phase before registering a superb 2-0 victory away to Mayo in the Trophy quarter-finals. That has set up a semi-final meeting, and another road trip, away to Clare.

‘So, after a long but successful trip to Mayo, the boys have been back in training with a very positive attitude,’ West Cork Academy U14 Schoolboys head coach Shaun Hough commented to The Southern Star.

‘We’ve been working on the discipline of keeping our shape. Also, playing in our individual positions so that we can stay compact in defence but also create the opportunities to try and unlock teams.

‘We played Carrigaline in a very useful friendly last weekend. I can see the boys are beginning to put into practice what we are doing on the training pitch in a real game environment. That should give us a good foundation for the Clare match.

‘It goes without saying, but, we as a coaching staff, JJ Hurley, Rory Curtin and I, are proud of this squad’s achievements and their development over the last few months.

‘Look, it is going to be a very tough game against Clare but we will travel there quietly confident that we will give them a good game. Hopefully, we will return home with another victory.’

West Cork Academy U14 Schoolboys: Eli Zabala, Aodhan O’Mahony, Conor Collins, Danny Carroll (captain), Dylan O’Brien, Ed Hough, Donagh Griffin, Finbarr O’Mahony, Kingsley Osagie Crosby, Ryan Crowley Healy, Rory Hurley, Patrick Hennigan, Charlie Daly, Tristan Hayes, Daniel O’Sullivan, Ben Machie, Rocco O’Reilly Bermueller, Caden Walsh, Jamie O’Connor, Oliver Kiely, Sam Kingston, Jack Horgan.