Kevin Toner helps Villa to a point

Meath teenager Kevin Toner featured prominently for relegated Premier League Aston Villa yesterday as they earned a 0-0 with relegtaion-threatened Newcastle Utd.

Toner joined the Aston Villa academy in 2012 and played his early under-age football for Ashbourne Utd. James Finnerty from Skryne is also with the Aston Villa academy.

Toner  played for the Republic of Ireland in the U-17 international squad and also the U-15 and U-16 and more recently the u-19s.

In September last year Toner was loaned to Kidderminster Harriers for one month and featured in six games.

After returning to Villa he continued to impress and on Saturday 23rd April last he made his senior début for the club, coming-on as second half substitute for Micah Richards in a Premier League match against Southampton.

The Meath man made his full début for Villa a week later on Saturday 30th April when his side was edged out (2-3) by Watford.

Toner started yesterday in the game against Newcastle and received a good post-macth review from the Birmingham Mail (see below)

Kevin Toner put in a colossal display as Aston Villa recorded only their second home shut-out of the season.

The 19-year-old fitted in at left-back for the suspended Aly Cissokho and was once again influential as the rearguard stood firm.

Caretaker boss Eric Black praised the teenager and hailed his performance as immense.

“I thought he was outstanding,” said Black. “Andros Townsend has been their best player for the last few games and we knew that. He kept him quiet.

“We looked at the video and their biggest threat was down the right. It was a big ask for Kevin Toner but my goodness did he stand up to it.

“He deserves enormous credit. He kept his head held high and he has performed at Premier League level.“

Black believes Toner’s physical presence has helped him settle in easily to first-team football, after his loan spell at Kidderminster Harriers.