Former Republic of Ireland captain David Meyler believes the great development of current Irish underage players is down to the work being done at their League of Ireland clubs.
Meyler joined John Duggan, Johnny Ward and Dan McDonnell on Football Saturday. He spoke about the impressive skills exhibited by players such as Ireland underage star Cathal Heffernan.
Son of Olympic bronze medallist Rob, Heffernan has been superb for Cork City since joining the First Division club in June.
Meyler explained that Heffernan's prowess this season is a result of a stronger focus by League of Ireland clubs on developing their underage teams.
"I look at where they are and where I was at that age, and they're a million miles ahead of where I was," Meyler said.
"The players that we have are representing teams like Shamrock Rovers, St. Pat's, Cork City, Derry City. A lot of those clubs are professional clubs, in that they have a routine and structure towards the first team that is dripping down."
"The first team manager will want the underage teams all playing a particular way to try and shape players to come through - that wasn't there when I was a kid."
"I've seen bits and pieces of what Cork City are trying to do and [...] there's incredible work going in."
Meyler added: "Even with the Ireland underage, there's loads of work going in at U-15s, U-16s, U-17s, U-18s and U-19s.
"I think that's why we're seeing a great burst of the young players getting into the first team, because the work is being done over the last four or five years."
"If you go back 13-14 years ago, that wasn't there, that work wasn't getting done. But it is now and that is great to see."
Dan McDonnell: "That theory still hasn't been tested enough"
However, McDonnell warns that it is still too early to tell if Irish players are benefitting from opting not to move to overseas club.
"I think the fear is that at 16-18 would be a big development age for some of them at their clubs in the UK - they would all have left [Ireland] previously," the Irish Independent soccer correspondent said.
"We still don't know because that theory still hasn't been tested enough to see."
"Like Jason Knight and [Andrew] Omobamidele and those other players, they left at 16 and got their last bit. Their finishing school was at their club at Premier League or Championship level."
"The test now is to see if Cathal Heffernan and others will be well served by staying here."
Stelling to leave Soccer Saturday at the end of the season | OTB Football
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