Young Dublin team looking to make waves
The Dublin Gaels, winner of the North Coast Section Division II titles in 2010 and 2014, are a well respected and established program in the East Bay Area. They play hard, play with intensity, and do not quit. In each…
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Continue ReadingThe Dublin Gaels, winner of the North Coast Section Division II titles in 2010 and 2014, are a well respected and established program in the East Bay Area. They play hard, play with intensity, and do not quit.
In each of their six seasons (2021 excluded since the NCS playoffs did not occur) as a Division I team, they have made the playoffs, doing so competing in the East Bay Athletic League, a gauntlet that has been highly touted and publicized. However, the next step will be competing for a DI crown.
The young Gaels will be young and inexperienced at the varsity level this year, but the talent is there for this time to do something special, or at the very least set the next wave of Dublin teams up for long-term success.
“There is potential and possibility on the squad, but it remains to be seen if the boys can realize their individual and collective potential and how quickly they might be able to do that,” Dublin coach Jon Morrison said. “As a group, both the coaches and players expect to compete this season and we are excited to get rolling. We have some excellent leaders on the squad and, as a whole, it’s a group that loves the game that hasn’t yet scratched the surface of how good they could be.”
Despite losing some top talent to the MLS Next program, the EBAL will continue to be a challenge for all teams in the league, and Dublin is no exception. The gauntlet of playing De La Salle, San Ramon Valley, Monte Vista, Amador Valley, etc… is daunting for any team.
“For as far back as I can remember, the EBAL has been extremely strong and filled with so many talented players, not to mention the outstanding programs and legendary coaches,” Morrison said. “Obviously it would be better to have all of the players in the area playing this season, but I expect that the league will once again prove to be very strong, loaded with talent, and be a formidable challenge game-to-game.”
If Dublin is going to compete this year, it will be Jayden Albarran and Galen Spies leading the way. Both of them are captains and leaders. Both are seniors, midfielders that play in the center of the pitch and see the game very well. Both are talented enough to play beyond club and high school soccer and are exploring those options.