Notts Snap Up Irish Youth Duo

Last updated : 18 May 2002 By Paul Berry
The Magpies have signed Irish youth international Emmet Friars and left-winger Eddie McIntyre for the youth team.

Friars, in particular, was attracting the interest of several Premiership clubs.

The players were recommended by the same scout that discovered the likes of Paul Heffernan and Saul Deeney.

20 year-old Heffernan broke in to the first team squad with dramatic effect last season scoring six vital goals in the Great Escape campaign. He has recently become a member of the Ireland Under-21 squad.

18 year-old Deeney is set to be a star of the future and was loaned out to Gresley Rovers earlier this season to assess his readiness for first-team football.

Nottingham is a popular destination for young Irsh players. Under-21 stars John Thompson, Keith Foy, Brian Cash and Andy Reid are all based players across the river and Niall McNamara played for both Nottingham teams.