A SIGN, perhaps of the promising times ahead, and a measure of the increasingly numerous Irish presence in the English game should be demonstrated at Tolka Park (7.45) tonight.
Chris Hughton's Tottenham under-21 side take on their National League counterparts with eight Irish youngsters included in the visiting squad
Andy Turner, Stephen Carr, Owen Coll, Kevin Maher, Peter Gain, Neale Fenn, Simon" Webb and Ross Darcy.
Indeed, the latter two have played at under-age level for their rival manager tonight, Turlough O'Connor, who retains five of the National, League side that drew 0-0 with the Irish League in Lurgan last season - the UCD quartet of Eamonn McLoughlin, Declan Fitzgerald, Mick O'Byrne and Jason Colwell, along with Cork's Gareth Cronin.
While O'Connor is understandably wary of the superior fitness of the Spurs team, McLoughlin speaks for all his teammates when saying: "It is a great opportunity for young League of Ireland players to show their ability against English professionals."
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