CORK CITY WILL be the first Irish representatives in the Uefa Youth League, it has been confirmed.
The 2015 SSE Airtricity League U19 champions have been awarded a place in the competition after results went in their favour in the Champions League.
Barcelona won the inaugural edition of the youth competition in 2013-14, while Chelsea have won the trophy in the last two seasons.
Cork City’s U19 team, who are managed by Stephen Bermingham, won the Irish U19 league title in December 2015.
And they will compete in the prestigious European competition for the first time after Legia Warsaw and Celtic progressed to the group stage of the Champions League.
“It would be a huge thing for the players and a huge thing for the club,” Bermingham said last week of the prospect of making the competition.
“But more importantly, the whole league would benefit as it gives our youth players the chance to play against the best players from Europe.”
Cork will enter the competition via the ‘Domestic Champions Path’ as opposed to the ‘Champions League Path’ and the draw will take place on 30 August in Nyon.
The competition is scheduled to begin in September, with the final taking place on 24 April.
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