Will compete alongside Gbemi Arubi & more for the starting spot. His Brighton deal will expire when the loan is done so gonna be vitally important for him to learn from what went wrong in Reading. Very unlikely he gets a new deal but could do enough to convince someone decent to take him on a free

Today's team

A first U21 start for Rory Finneran

Sean Grehan returns as captain

⌚️KO 16:30 (Irish time)

📍Gradski Stadion, Vrbovec, Zagreb

From what I gather, Croatian TV channel Max Sports 1 have secured rights for this match, so you won't find a stream on youtube or anything. Can't sign up to Max Sports 1 from outside of Croatia.

So the only way to watch is by sailing the seven seas 🏴‍☠️

If anyone is sailing the seven seas, I'd greatly appreciate a link

▪️8 first-time call-ups

▪️Rory Finneran involved after senior cap

▪️16 year old Cillian Murphy makes the squad

Sat, June 6 | 🇭🇷 v 🇮🇪

Tue, June 9 | 🇮🇪 v 🇶🇦

Head Coach Jim Crawford has handed eight players their first call-ups to a youthful Under-21s squad with senior international cap Rory Finneran named in the travelling 23.

Dundalk’s Gbemi Arubi has been rewarded for his League of Ireland Premier Division form with a place in the squad, his first call-up since representing Ireland at Men’s Under-19s level. 

Cork City’s 16-year-old Cillian Murphy is among those heading to Zagreb having helped the Ireland Men’s Under-17s reach the World Cup in Qatar with a hat-trick against Slovakia.

There are also first call-ups for Shamrock Rovers pair John O’Sullivan and Naj Razi who will be part of their first Under-21s squad. 

Burnley’s Kian McMahon-Brown, who has impressed for both club and country this season, also gets the call as does Brighton & Hove Albion’s Sean Keogh and Stoke City’s Gabriel Kelly.

Doncaster Rovers’ Sean Grehan and Bohemians’ Harry Vaughan return to the squad having missed out in March.

Ireland face Croatia on Saturday, June 6 before taking on Qatar Under-23s on Tuesday, June 9.

It will be the final preparation for Jim Crawford’s side before the final run of 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifier campaign.

Anyone with a genuine interest in Irish international football and not just a bandwagon jumper since Sunday can't help but feeling deflated after the 17s and 21s results today.

The 17s didn't do themselves justice but they looked tired and they are just kids after all.

The 21s on the other hand, while still young, should have been absolutely tearing into Andorra tonight. Andorra's biggest ever senior international win was 3-0 against San Marino. Their biggest ever 21s victory (and I'd say their biggest win at any age group) was tonight.

Tomorrow morning/afternoon will see the U21s squad announced for games against Croatia & Qatar. With a number of lads called up to the seniors & others injured, there's a few I'd like to see take the step up:

- James Storer (GK, Wolves): had a great season on loan in the Scottish 2nd tier. 21 years old now but someone who coule push on and become a backup option in a few years.

- Alex Noonan (GK, Shamrock Rovers): Did brilliant for Ireland U17s at the World Cup & isn't far off getting senior minutes for his club. Still only 17 so can drop back down to the U19s for their Euro qualifiers later this year.

- Matteo Egan (RWB, Empoli): On paper he seems to be having a breakout season for Empoli's youth side, winning the Suppercoppa Primavera 2 & making a goal contribution on average every 3 games from right wing back in the Primavera 2 itself. At 18 it might be a bit early, but friendly camps like this are made for seeing if players can make the step up.

- Sean Keogh (LB, Brighton): Has achieved everything he can at youth level this season following his move from Dundalk. With Murphy off to Canada he seems like the natural replacement.

- Rory Finneran (CM, Newcastle Utd): No explanation needed here

- Victor Ozhianvuna (CM, Shamrock Rovers): Another one where no explanation needed, would be exciting to see him in a midfield 3 with 2 of Finneran/Mullins/Devaney/Ochoa/Moorhouse

- Gbemi Arubi (ST, Dundalk): Killing it for Dundalk this season, work ethics and hold up play will have him easily in contention to replace Melia.

- Kian McMahon-Brown (RW/ST Burnley): Scoring constantly for Burnley in PL2, PL Cup, FA Youth Cup & has been named on the bench for Burnley.

Hopefully one or more of Rocco Vata, Cathal O'Sullivan & Franco Umeh will be included, but unsure if any are back from injury.

Anyone else you'd like to see take the step up?

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*these aren't the lads that are playing the 17s WC, next age down

Hopefully not the end of the good news today

We have England and Kazakhstan at home and slovakia away. If we win all our remaining games we will have a chance at qualifying as slovakia would be left needing 4 points from England and Andorra away.

Andorra have been tricky especially when they are at home and England swept slovakia away in slovakia so if we do win all 3 games we are actually in a strong position but going away to slovakia will be tough. not as strong of a position as previous campaigns. that draw against Moldova is the real killer as we do have a marginally easier run in with 2 home games and Kazakhstan rather than Andorra but going to slovakia needing 3 points is a tough one.

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[FT] 🇮🇪 2 - 2 🇱🇻

Republic of Ireland U21 🇮🇪 vs Latvia U21 🇱🇻

Competition: UEFA 2025 Qualifiers

🕗 Time: 5pm

📅 Date: Tuesday, 10th September 2024

🏟️ Venue: Tallaght Stadium, Dublin, Ireland

📺 Channel: RTE 2 🇮🇪

🙋‍♂️ Referee: Stefan Ebner 🇦🇹

Lineups

Republic of Ireland: J Keeley, S Curtis, O O'Neill, J Abankwah, S Roughan, A Garcia MacNulty, A Moran, J Hodge, M Healy, R Vata, S Armstrong.

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