Robbie Brady another graduate of the famed St Kevin’s Boys academy

Robbie Brady was once that wide-eyed kid with big dreams introduced to professional football in England. Now, he is opening that world up for others.

The Hull City winger recently posed for selfies, signed autographs, and offered advice to the three schoolboy teams from his former club, St Kevin’s Boys, who had been to watch him play.

Every year the Dublin club brings a throng of ambitious youngsters across the water to West Bromwich Albion for an insight to a Premier League set-up. But meeting Brady was the real source of motivation.

While they are proud of each of their graduates, St Kevin’s Boys see Brady as the perfect example of someone who can achieve their dream and his career progression has helped them climb their own ladder.

No longer trailing behind traditional powerhouses like Home Farm, Belvedere, and Cherry Orchard, the Whitehall-based outfit is now seen as the premier nursery for future Republic of Ireland stars.

Best chance

“We may be at the top of the tree now but it’s even tougher to stay there. We’re always striving to give players the best chance at being the best that they can be,” says Football Director

Ken Donohoe

.

“We have professional standards and we mirror what West Brom do since linking up with them on a technical level in 2004. But if we don’t have successful teams then it’s going to be harder to attract players.

"We've been lucky enough to have some very successful teams, like the one that Robbie Brady and Jeff Hendrick were part of as they won almost everything. But it's really about us trying to develop players.

“We try to get the players who have gone on to make a name for themselves to come back to the club and talk to the young lads about the pitfalls, but it’s how they take that information on board.”

There is certainly no shortage of shining recent examples for St Kevin's Boys to highlight the path to success with four ex-players nominated for honours at last Sunday's FAI International Awards. Brady, along with Jeff Hendrick, are top of that tree as they are now key players with the Ireland senior team, but the likes of Jack Byrne (Manchester City) and Alex O'Hanlon (Liverpool) are hot on their heels.

For St Kevin’s Boys, the process never stops. Constantly looking at ways to improve their coaching, they want to continue supplying the Ireland team with talented players for years to come.

In the last 20 years, 146 different players have lined out for the Republic of Ireland senior men’s team with six Dublin schoolboy clubs providing 50 of them. Here is the breakdown: Home Farm15 Belvedere 11 Cherry Orchard10 St Joseph’s Boys5 St Kevin’s Boys5 Stella Maris4

In the last 20 years, 146 different players have lined out for the Republic of Ireland senior men’s team with six Dublin schoolboy clubs providing 50 of them. Here is the breakdown: Home Farm15 Belvedere 11 Cherry Orchard10 St Joseph’s Boys5 St Kevin’s Boys5 Stella Maris4