Two of Irish international football’s most experienced coaches will call time on coaching after almost 20 years in their roles.

Men’s Under-19s Assistant Coach Mick Neville and Goalkeeping Coach Dermot O’Neill have stepped away from the team in a career that saw them reach the Under-19 European Championship Semi Finals in 2019 and the last eight of the Under-17 European Championship Finals in 2015.

The pair, along with Head Coach Tom Mohan, began with Ireland Men’s Under-17s as early as 2012 before being promoted to the U19s and have played a key part in the development of some of Ireland’s most talented players with many earning senior international caps.

Two legends of the League of Ireland, Mick won a combination of 13 league titles and FAI Cups with Shamrock Rovers, Derry City (Treble Winner) and Shelbourne with Dermot making almost 300 appearances for Bohemians in a decade-long stay at Dalymount before winning the FAI Cup with Derry City in 1995 and the Irish Cup with Glenavon in 1997.

Speaking about his time coaching the Under-17s and Under-19s, Mick said: “Tom took me on with the Under-17s and we moved up to the Under-19s after four years.

“We had some great times but the highlights for me were qualifying for the European Championships and getting to the Semi Final. It was a great journey, we beat a lot of great teams. In our time we beat the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, and a lot of top football nations and it was great to be a part of it.

“I felt that being away for 10 to 12 days at a time is a long stretch - it’s full on. People don’t see the work that goes in from everyone in such a short space of time. I feel I’ve done my time and it’s time for a young coach to come in and have the experience I’ve had.

“The football experience I got under Tom, and his football knowledge is second to none. He’s an unbelievable coach and I’ve fully enjoyed working under him.”

Dermot added: “I’ve done 20 years and started in 2005 under the late and great Sean McCaffrey and have loved it. That was at Under-17s and we had great times. I worked with John Morling for a spell before Tom came in at that age level  before moving with him to the Under-19s and I’ve been with Tom ever since. 

“I worked alongside so many brilliant clubs and their amazing players in my time. The three lads in the senior team now, Caoimhin Kelleher, Gavin Bazunu and Mark Travers would have all been in with me for a spell. Mark and Caoimhin, between them, would have been first and second choice for a couple of years. And with Gavin I had him for a camp when helping out the Under-16s for a time – his development since then has been incredible. Three brilliant boys and when you add Brian Maher into that too, our captain for the Semi Finals at the Under-19 EUROs, I’ve been fortunate to coach some top, top quality goalkeepers. They’re some smashing young fellas.

“It’s time to move on now but the staff group we had with the Under-19s had the camaraderie. We were tight and we worked hard and you had Tom leading the way and he was the best of the lot. He’s a top class coach and an even better human being.”

Reflecting on his time with Mick and Dermot, Tom Mohan added: “Irish football, and in particular our young players, have been so fortunate to have had two great characters and coaches in Mick Neville and Dermot O’Neill guide and develop our top young talent over the past 15 to 20 years at various underage International age groups.

“When I got the role as Ireland Under-17s Head Coach, Mick Neville was the first person I wanted in as we had formed a great relationship from our time as Development Officers as well as coaching on the Emerging Talent Programme. 

“Apart from his vast wealth of knowledge, outstanding success as a player in the League of Ireland and his successful coaching experiences at Shelbourne, I knew when I took Mick in as coach I was not only bringing in a really good coach but a specialist in the defending side of the game. He had the great ability to bring those playing experiences to life and played a valuable role in the development of so many young players who have since gone on to play at the highest level for club and country.

“For Dermot, I’ve coached with Dermot for 18 years where we were both very fortunate to work under the late great Sean McCaffrey and in season 2007/08 got to the European Championship Finals in Turkey. 

“I could quickly see why Sean valued Dermot so highly while I worked alongside him in that first season. Dermot’s larger than life and positive personality along with his vast knowledge and broad skillset helped develop and instil great confidence in our young goalkeepers. 

“Dermot can leave his goalkeeping coaching role with our Under-19s international team knowing he played a massive part, along with their clubs, at development of our current senior international goalkeepers which is the ultimate accolade you can pay to any underage coach.”

The changes to the Under-19s staff includes masseur Mickey McGlynn who steps away after six years working with the team, Goalkeeping Coach and Performance Analyst Danny O’Leary has taken up a coaching role in Saudi Arabia while kitman Shane Elliott returns to the Under-16s team. 

Tom added: “Mickey, Shane and Danny were an integral part of our group and very popular with both players and staff a like. 

"I speak on behalf of all our staff in thanking Mick, Dermot, Danny, Mickey and Shane for their hard work, dedication and levels of professionalism they brought to our many different groups and wish them good health and good luck for the future.”