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Ireland v USA – Preview, Teams, Odds, Where To Watch

Ireland will welcome the United States of America to the RDS Arena on Friday night for the first of their two 2021 Autumn Internationals.

The match in Dublin will be the team’s first game since they missed out on qualification for next year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup.

The matches against the USA and Japan will serve as the final ones under current Head Coach Adam Griggs, who will leave his post and be replaced by Greg McWilliams.

On top of this, the pictures come at a time of friction between the players and those who run the show in the IRFU.

Director of Women’s and Sevens Rugby for the union, Anthony Eddy had said earlier in the week that the organisation was not neglecting the women’s game and does not believe that the national team will be left behind as others take steps forward.

He also appeared to lay the blame for Ireland’s failed qualification bid at the players’ feet.

However, players, both past and present, have come out against Eddy and forced an apology from the Director, with captain Ciara Griffin noting that he had apologised in case anyone took offence.

On a positive note, the team are united and have their eyes set on bouncing back from their disappointing losses in Parma.

Manager Adam Griggs has shown his excitement in facing the star-studded USA team:

“We have had two good weeks of preparation for the Autumn Tests and the group are excited to get back out on the pitch and put that hard work into action.

“A first Test at the RDS under Friday night lights will be a special occasion and we’re looking forward to having family, friends, and our supporters back in the stands to get behind us.”

Teams

Ireland: 15. Lauren Delany, 14. Laura Sheehan, 13. Eimear Considine, 12. Sene Naoupu, 11. Beibhinn Parsons, 10. Stacey Flood, 9. Ailsa Hughes; 1. Lindsay Peat, 2. Cliodhna Moloney, 3. Leah Lyons, 4. Nichola Fryday, 5. Sam Monaghan, 6. Ciara Griffin (c), 7. Edel McMahon, 8. Anna Caplice

Replacements: 16. Neve Jones, 17. Katie O’Dwyer, 18. Linda Djougang, 19. Hannah O’Connor, 20. Maeve Óg O’Leary, 21. Kathryn Dane, 22. Eve Higgins, 23. Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe

USA: 15. Kayla Canett, 14. Tess Feury, 13. Amy Talei Bonte, 12. Katana Howard, 11. Bulou Mataitoga, 10. Megan Foster, 9. Carly Waters; 1. Catherine Benson, 2. Saher Hamdam, 3. Hope Rogers, 4. Kristine Sommer, 5. Alycia Washington, 6. Rachel Ehrecke, 7. Rachel Johnson, 8. Kate Zackary.

Replacements: 16. Kathryn Treder, 17. Maya Learned, 18. Nick James, 19. Hallie Taufoou, 20. Elizabeth Cairns, 21. Olivia Ortiz, 22. McKenzie Hawkins, 23. Sarah Levy.

Odds

Ireland 6/5

Draw 17/1

USA 8/11

Where To Watch

The match will kick-off at 7:15 pm with live coverage of the game available on the RTÉ Player.

Ireland v New Zealand – Preview, Teams, Odds, Where To Watch

Ireland will welcome New Zealand to the Aviva Stadium for the first time since their historic 16-9 win over them three years ago.

A lot has changed since then, with new managers and new players involved in the national sides’ setups.

A heavy thrashing handed out to the boys in green by the All Blacks in 2019 at the Rugby World Cup is what will serve as the control for Andy Farrell’s men.

How far have they come in the last two years? How close to the top are they after their mighty fall in 2019? Is Farrell the man to lead Ireland into the next World Cup?

After this game, fans should have a clearer view – a win is not necessary to show sufficient proof but rather a great improvement on the 32-point deficit that saw them exit another World Cup at the quarter-final stage.

Regardless of the fate of Ireland’s current six-game win streak, a good performance against Ian Foster’s team could go a long way.

Only one change has been made to the Ireland side that dismantled Jamie Joseph’s Japan, who continue their downward spiral.

Iain Henderson comes into the pack in place of Tadhg Beirne, who is relegated to the bench.

The likes of Brodie Retallick, Beauden Barrett and Rieko Ioane will line out for the All Blacks.

Teams

Ireland

15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 14 caps
14. Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen) 26 caps
13. Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 35 caps
12. Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 32 caps
11. James Lowe (Leinster) 7 caps
10. Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 100 caps CAPTAIN
9. Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 11 caps

1. Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 38 caps
2. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 14 caps
3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 50 caps
4. Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 64 caps
5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 38 caps
6. Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 10 caps
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 33 caps
8. Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 21 caps

Replacements 
16. Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 22 caps
17. Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 110 caps
18. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 17 caps
19. Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 23 caps
20. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 77 caps
21. Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 90 caps
22. Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 25 caps
23. Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster) 94 caps

New Zealand

1-15 starters, 16-23 bench.
  1. Joe Moody (55)
  2. Codie Taylor (65)
  3. Nepo Laulala (38)
  4. Brodie Retallick (90)
  5. Samuel Whitelock (130) – captain
  6. Ethan Blackadder (8)
  7. Dalton Papalii (11)
  8. Ardie Savea (57)
  9. TJ Perenara (77)
  10. Beauden Barrett (100)
  11. Sevu Reece (16)
  12. Anton Lienert-Brown (55)
  13. Rieko Ioane (45)
  14. Will Jordan (11)
  15. Jordie Barrett (34)
  16. Dane Coles (78)
  17. Karl Tu’inukuafe (24)
  18. Tyrel Lomax (13)
  19. Tupou Vaa’i (10)
  20. Akira Ioane (11)
  21. Finlay Christie (5)
  22. Richie Mo’unga (30)
  23. David Havili (13)

Odds

Ireland 7/2

Draw 22/1

New Zealand 2/9

Where To Watch

The match will kick-off at 3:15 pm with live coverage starting an hour earlier on RTÉ 2.

All-Star book will include detailed history of long-standing GAA awards

All-Star Gazing, a book that marks the 50th anniversary of the All-Stars in 2021, will be launched on Thursday 11th November 2021 at 7 pm in Croke Park by Michael Lyster with GAA President, Larry McCarthy in attendance.

Fifty years on, the story of the All-Stars – Ireland’s longest-running sports award scheme – has been penned by Moira and Eileen Dunne, daughters of Mick Dunne, who along with his fellow journalists, Paddy Downey, John D Hickey and Pádraig Puirséal, got the scheme up and running in 1971.

Using their father’s records as a starting point, the sisters met over 100 All-Stars and other stakeholders, who shared their memories of All-Star banquets and trips along with reflections on what the accolade means to the players, families and communities.

The book includes a listing of each Football and Hurling All-Star team from 1971 to 2020, and for the first time ever, a complete list of all players nominated over the past 50 years.

Labhrás Mac Cárthaigh, Uachtarán Cumann Lúthchleas Gael greeted the launch of All-Star Gazing: “The GAA All-Stars is the most prestigious sporting awards scheme in Irish society and has gone from strength to strength since its inception in 1971. 

“While the GAA and various sponsors – current partners PwC among them – have played a central role in running the scheme, one of the most important pillars of the All-Stars has been its independence and integrity, provided by the role of GAA journalists making the all-important selections of both nominees and overall winners.

“To that end, it is fitting that the Dunne sisters, Eileen and Moira, should be the driving force behind this excellent publication to mark the 50th anniversary.”

Feargal O’Rourke, Managing Partner, PwC, said: “We would like to congratulate Moira and Eileen Dunne on the launch of their fantastic book celebrating the 50-year history of the All-Stars.

“The book showcases a superb collection of All-Star players down through the decades, whose talent, teamwork and sheer determination have awed us all.

“As proud sponsors of the PwC All-Stars we are delighted to celebrate the 50th anniversary and to show our support for the book. No doubt it will be in high demand with all GAA fans.”

Some of Gaelic games’ top footballers and hurlers talked about the significance of winning an All-Star award:

Brian Fenton, Dublin Footballer, 5-time All-Star

“Winning an All-Ireland is amazing but to win an All-Star at the end of the year is unreal. It is the perfect year”.

Henry Shefflin, Kilkenny Hurler, 11-time All-Star

“Winning the All-Star meant I was joining the other great players who had won it. I was up there with Anthony Daly, Johnny Dooley thinking, I have arrived

Mickey Quinn, Leitrim Footballer, the county’s first ever All-Star

“An All-Star is something every player wants to win. I was privileged to be the first person in Leitrim to win one.”

Joe Canning, Galway Hurler, 5-Time All-Star

“It was really special to receive an All-Star with Ollie in 2009 and a great night for Mam and Dad.”

GOAL Mile appealing for supporters this Christmas

The people of Ireland are asked to stand with GOAL this Christmas. It will also be the first time ever that it will take place in person and virtually

Irish humanitarian aid agency GOAL is launching this year’s hugely popular Christmas fundraiser, the GOAL Mile.

The event is open for people across Ireland and abroad, with registration now open at the GOAL website

The annual event sees people across the country gather over the Christmas holidays to run, jog or walk a mile in support of vulnerable communities across 14 countries where works take place in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.

 

Starting first in 1977, this year’s GOAL Mile is supported by AIB. This will be the first of a new three-year partnership, announced just last month.

This year marks the first time that both in-person and virtual events are taking place. This is following the move online due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Prior to the pandemic, over 170 Miles events were organized across Ireland. In 2019, approximately 50,000 people raised over €250,000.

GOAL’s Director of Fundraising and Marketing, Eamon Sharkey, sees the option of physical or virtual GOAL Miles as an opportunity to connect even more people with their communities, the Irish diaspora and GOAL’s work this Christmas.

“We are so excited to re-connect with people in-person this Christmas.”

“For many people, it will have been two years since they were last with family, friends, and neighbors, and we hope the GOAL Mile can play a part in bringing people together as we come out of such a challenging period.”

“Of course, there are many people around the world who still can’t be at home or take part in physical events this Christmas. That is why we are delighted to also be encouraging virtual GOAL Miles once again. Last year people from every corner of the world took part to make it a truly global event, and we would love to see that become a part of the longstanding tradition of the GOAL Mile.”

 

GOAL CEO Siobhan Walsh hopes to reach more communities throughout Ireland and across the globe with this year’s fundraiser.

“Hundreds of communities across Ireland already know and love the GOAL Mile,” said Ms. Walsh.

“They show incredible compassion for communities in need across the world that this event supports. GOAL helped more than 14 million people in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America last year. We could not have achieved this without the continued support of the Irish people.”

AIB Chief Executive, Colin Hunt, said:

“At AIB we are committed to building a sustainable tomorrow by backing those who are building it today, and by supporting GOAL we are reaching those communities that are already suffering deeply from the impact of crises, poverty and climate change.“

To register for your local event or to arrange one at a new location, please visit GOAL’s official website.

To read more from this writer, click here.

And to read more in-depth and up-to-date Irish sports news, click here.

Dublin to host Women’s 2022 EuroHockey Championship qualifier

Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland will host the upcoming Women’s 2022 EuroHockey Championship qualifier event in August of next year.

The men’s qualifier will be held in Calais, France and both qualifiers are new on the international hockey calendar.

The European Hockey Federation confirmed the breakdown of events on Thursday morning with both events running between August 21st and 27th, 2022.

The 12th ranked Irish women will be the top seed for a Dublin-based event that also features Poland (27th), the Czech Republic (24th), Turkey (33rd) and Finland (unranked).

The Irish women won the last qualifier they took part in, earning themselves the right to play in the 2022 FIH World Cup.

The 14th ranked men are placed in Qualifier B alongside host side France – 13th in the world – as well as Ukraine (28th), Turkey (44th), Lithuania (62nd) and Slovenia (71st).

Previously, the level of European championship competition countries took part in was on a promotion and relegation basis.

This new format sees four men’s and four women’s qualifier tournaments with one ticket to the top tier championships in 2023 on offer from each event – each qualifier tournament will be held in a different location.

The second and third-placed finishers in each tournament will play in the 2023 EuroHockey Trophy; fourth and fifth-placed sides go to the third tier while the remaining teams will go into the fourth tier.

2022 EuroHockey Championship qualifiers (all August 2022)
Men
Qualifier A (Ourense, Spain): Spain, Poland, Italy, Portugal, Slovakia
Qualifier B (Calais, France): France, IRELAND, Ukraine, Turkey, Slovenia
Qualifier C (Vienna, Austria): Austria, Russia, Belarus, Croatia, Denmark, Hungary
Qualifier D (TBC, Scotland): Scotland, Wales, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Gibraltar, Finland

Women
Qualifier A (Durham, England): England, Wales, Russia, Croatia, Slovakia
Qualifier B (Dublin, Ireland): IRELAND, Poland, Czech Republic, Turkey, Finland
Qualifier C (TBC): Belarus, Italy, Ukraine, Lithuania, Gibraltar
Qualifier D (Dunkirk, France): France, Scotland, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia

One change to Ireland side for All Blacks clash in Dublin

Andy Farrell and his coaching team have announced the Ireland side that will take on New Zealand two years after their World Cup quarter-final defeat, with only one change to the starting XV that played against Japan.

Ulster captain Iain Henderson takes his place in the second row alongside James Ryan, with Munster star Tadhg Beirne making way.

Captain Johnny Sexton will face New Zealand for the 14th time in his international career, leading a side that includes several players new to the fixture.

The back three of Hugo Keenan, Andrew Conway and James Lowe will play New Zealand at senior level for the first time – Jamison Gibson-Park will do so as well in the number nine shirt.

Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose are partnered in midfield for the fourteenth occasion in green.

The Leinster-heavy pack is retained, with the only swap involving players who don’t wear blue for their club.

Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher and Tadhg Furlong keep their spots in the side, much like the back row trio of Caelan Doris, Josh Van Der Flier and Jack Conan.

However, only one Leinster star makes the bench – Cian Healy. The rest of the bench is filled with players from the three other provinces, including the dropped Beirne.

Ireland Team v All Blacks

15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 14 caps
14. Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen) 26 caps
13. Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 35 caps
12. Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 32 caps
11. James Lowe (Leinster) 7 caps
10. Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 100 caps CAPTAIN
9. Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 11 caps

1. Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 38 caps
2. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 14 caps
3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 50 caps
4. Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 64 caps
5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 38 caps
6. Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 10 caps
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 33 caps
8. Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 21 caps

Replacements 
16. Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 22 caps
17. Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 110 caps
18. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 17 caps
19. Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 23 caps
20. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 77 caps
21. Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 90 caps
22. Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 25 caps
23. Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster) 94 caps

Autumn Nations Series Fixtures 2021

IRELAND v New Zealand
Aviva Stadium , Saturday 13th November, 2021

IRELAND v Argentina – Buy Tickets Here
Aviva Stadium , Sunday 21st November, 2021

Greatest all time League of Ireland Ultimate Team cards

The League of Ireland may be one of the lower leagues in FIFA Ultimate Team but that does not mean it has not produced some great cards

There have been some amazing Ultimate Team Cards from the Airtricity League dating from FIFA 12 to this year’s edition.

Billy Dennehy’s FIFA 14 Team of the Season card and Conan Byrne’s In-Form in FIFA 18 are just some of the players that make our honourable mentions list.

The 2022 edition of the football game has proved to be divisive so far but we can expect a few more classic cards to join this roster in the coming months.

Here is a list of the Top 7 League of Ireland FIFA Ultimate Team Cards.

7. Richie Towell

Dundalk FC – 70 – FIFA 16

Hopping in first with one of the Irish leagues’ most accomplished players. Before moving to Preston North End in England, he managed to earn a very decent defensive midfielder card for Dundalk.

His card has four base stats above 70 including 87 stamina and 80 penalties.

 

6. Harry Ascroft (Hero)

Finn Harps – 69 – FIFA 20

This may not have been the best defender to use but the New Zealander was definitely one for the card collectors. The centre half was handed the card after he scored a 107th-minute winner against Drogheda United in the Relegation Play-off final.

5. Graham Burke (In-Form)

Shamrock Rovers – 75 – FIFA 20

Burke was a strong player in FIFA only hampered by his positioning. His lack of pace on the wing lets down his strong shooting and dribbling. This card at least stands as a reminder of the time that the Rovers player was called into the Irish national team setup.

4. Daryl Horgan (Player of the Year)

Dundalk FC – 74 – FIFA 17

Back in FIFA 17, this card became one of the first ‘must-haves’ for any League of Ireland fan. His speedy pace and the purple colour made him very desirable for any gamer. As one of the first POTY cards in all of FIFA, many people wanted to see what the hype was around Horgan.

 

3. Kieran Sadlier (In-Form)

Cork City FC – 75 – FIFA 18

It has been a long time since Irish fans have heard about the young winger Kieran Sadlier. The 27-year-old now plays for Rotherham United but back in FIFA 18 he became League of Ireland’s first gold Ultimate Team cards. After two In-Forms, the powers that be granted him a strong card with two base stats over 80.

 

2. Michael Duffy (Player of the Year)

Dundalk FC – 81 – FIFA 19

Duffy became the leagues first player to break the 80-rated mark when he was awarded as Player of the Year in 2019. The winger was given a very well rounded card but the main attraction is his four-star weak foot and skill moves. The Derry man still plies his trade with Dundalk and continues to earn nice cards with each FIFA edition.

 

1. Jack Byrne (Team of the Season)

Shamrock Rovers – 86 – FIFA 20

Lastly, the greatest Ultimate Team card goes to probably the best League of Ireland players in recent years. The 5’9” winger was best used as a CAM in FIFA two years ago. He now plays for APOEL FC with many Irish fans hoping that he will return from injury strong and back onto the national team.

 

To read more from this writer, click here.

And to read more in-depth and up-to-date Ireland and international club football news, click here.

Sinead Kavanagh: I’ve seen Cyborg and I ain’t afraid’

Sinead Kavanagh is prepared for the biggest fight of her mixed-martial-arts career when she faces Cris Cyborg for the Bellator Women’s Featherweight title on Friday evening at Bellator 271.

Kavanagh’s quest for gold will potentially reach its final boss just a week after SBG Ireland teammate Peter Queally was stopped by Patricky Pitbull in Dublin.

The challenger, who is on a two-fight win streak, comes into the fight with confidence in her training and her abilities.

“[I feel] good, everything’s perfect,” the featherweight said. “I’m feeling strong. You can’t doubt this week like, it’s been a great week. I’ve seen her and I’m not afraid.”

Cris Cyborg is seen as one of the greatest women’s mixed-martial artists of all time and has held the Bellator featherweight title since winning it on her debut in the organisation.

She followed up her title win over Julia Budd with victories against Arlene Blencowe and Leslie Smith and will now entertain the Dubliner in Florida.

Kavanagh has lost half of her eight fights in the organisation, with losses to Blencowe and Smith on her record but her latest streak has earned her the chance of a lifetime

However, Cyborg is a heavy 1/20 favourite to defend her latest belt for a third time with a win over Kavanagh, who says the veteran’s mind games have already started.

“You won’t believe what they’re up to. They’re up there tagging me in that suplex. We’re out running, she’s in her sweat gear.

“Two o’clock in the afternoon like, blistering heat in that sweat gear like, and they’re running and then me and me missus are walking past and video cameraing and stuff like that.

Kavanagh also revealed that Cyborg has been using cards based on the hit Netflix show ‘Squid Game’ in an attempt to intimidate her.

“She has these cards, these squid game cards with her face on it and she’s leaving them everywhere I go like – leaving them in me corner, leaving them on me floor like.

“She’s trying to play mind games, she’s trying to break me but she can’t like – that’s what she does to her opponents.”

Cris Cyborg and Sinead Kavanagh will battle it out for the belt in the main event of Bellator 271 – the main card is set to begin at 3 am GMT.

All Blacks team to face Ireland on Saturday

The All Blacks team has been named to play Ireland at Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, on Saturday 13 November. (Kick-off:  3.15PM)

The forward pack which ran out against Wales two weeks ago has been retained, with the front row of Joe Moody, Codie Taylor and Nepo Laulala.

The second row is the experienced Samuel Whitelock, who will captain the side, and Brodie Retallick, while in the loose forwards, Ethan Blackadder is at blindside flanker, Dalton Papalii is at openside, while Ardie Savea is number eight.

Dane Coles comes in as reserve hooker, alongside fellow reserves: props Karl Tu’inukuafe and Tyrel Lomax, lock Tupou Vaa’i and loose forward Akira Ioane.

In the backs, TJ Perenara is at halfback, with Beauden Barrett at 10, while Anton Lienert-Brown moves to second five-eighth and Rieko Ioane is at centre.

Sevu Reece is on the left wing with Will Jordan on the right and Jordie Barrett is at fullback.

Halfback Finlay Christie, first five-eighth Richie Mo’unga and David Havili are the back reserves.

All Blacks Head Coach Ian Foster said: “We’ve had a great week here in Dublin. We travelled well from Italy and are back into our more traditional routine of hitting a town and then moving onto the next one.

“The weather has been great here and we’ve enjoyed training in those conditions and getting ready for what will be a massive occasion on Saturday.

“We obviously have objectives we want to get out of each training session and we feel we have done that well.  The guys are focused and we achieved what we wanted to achieve.”

Speaking on the changes in the starting backline, Foster said: “That’s the way we finished the Welsh game, with Anton moving in, Rieko moving to centre and Sevu on the wing.

“It’s a little bit of a reward for that combination. We’ve been able to use this series of games and the time together to try different things and thought a little change there would be good for us.

“We’re also pretty excited at the impact that Finlay, David and Richie will have off the bench.”

Foster added: “We’ve watched Ireland’s development this year with interest, particularly through the latter part of the Six Nations and last week’s big win over Japan. They are certainly playing with confidence and ambition and represent a formidable challenge.

“We have no doubt what Saturday is going to bring at a full Aviva Stadium.  It’s a big occasion, rugby is back to Dublin in terms of full grandstands, so we know what it’s going to mean here, and we want that kind of stage. It’s big and it’s exciting and is what motivates this team.”

All Blacks team v Ireland

1-15 starters, 16-23 bench.
  1. Joe Moody (55)
  2. Codie Taylor (65)
  3. Nepo Laulala (38)
  4. Brodie Retallick (90)
  5. Samuel Whitelock (130) – captain
  6. Ethan Blackadder (8)
  7. Dalton Papalii (11)
  8. Ardie Savea (57)
  9. TJ Perenara (77)
  10. Beauden Barrett (100)
  11. Sevu Reece (16)
  12. Anton Lienert-Brown (55)
  13. Rieko Ioane (45)
  14. Will Jordan (11)
  15. Jordie Barrett (34)
  16. Dane Coles (78)
  17. Karl Tu’inukuafe (24)
  18. Tyrel Lomax (13)
  19. Tupou Vaa’i (10)
  20. Akira Ioane (11)
  21. Finlay Christie (5)
  22. Richie Mo’unga (30)
  23. David Havili (13)

Best young Irish football players yet to get their first senior cap

Many pundits have been proclaiming and hoping that Ireland has a team for the future. There are still many young Irish players waiting for their first chance

Best young Irish footballers waiting for their senior international cap

6. Tyreik Samuel Wright

Salford City (on loan) – Right-Wing – 20-years-old

This is Wright’s first full year as part of the senior set-up of a professional club. The winger was born in Ovens, County Cork and made his name at Lakewood FC before moving into Aston Villa’s youth system.

Last season he spent six months at Walsall making 16 league appearances. This year in League Two, Wright has made four starts, scoring his first senior goal. Still a young man, he has gotten seven caps with the Irish U21 team and has scored a goal.

 

5. Zachary Elbouzedi

AIK – Right Midfield – 23-years-old

Elbouzedi has been a name on many Irish fans tongues for the last few years. The Dublin man began his youth career at West Bromwich Albion but after not breaking into the side he started travelling between Scotland, England and Ireland. Now he finds himself playing for AIK in Sweden. So far he has made 17 appearances since July scoring one remarkable goal.

The midfielder is still yet to get a senior cap even though he has for every one of Ireland’s underage teams from U15s to U21s. Still only 23 years old, his day could still come.

4. Joshua Kayode

Rotherham United – Centre Forward – 20-years-old

Stephen Kenny has found great success in finding young Irish talents in Rotherham this year. Kayode could soon join his compatriot Chiedozie Ogbene in pulling on the green jersey. Born in Lagos, Nigeria he has represented the Ireland U21s team since October 2020. He even scored on his first full debut for the team away against Luxembourg last year.

He scored eight goals last year on loan at Carlisle United last season which has led to him playing six games already for his parent club Rotherham.

 

3. Liam Scales

Celtic FC – Left Wing Back – 23-years-old

This is one of the most likely people on this list to get the call-up. Scales has been playing very well for Celtic since moving from Shamrock Rovers this summer. He was called up for Ireland’s last set of qualifiers but was unlucky not to make it onto the pitch.

Although he is not featured in the squad for the upcoming matches, if his form continues to go up then we could see him in the squad soon.

2. Conor Coventry

Peterborough (on loan) – Centre Midfield – 21-years-old

Coventry is another English born player that has found a chance in the Irish set-up through his mother. He first joined Ireland’s U17s team and was recently part of Stephen Kenny’s U21 team before Kenny took the senior job.

He is presently on a season-long loan from parent club West Ham in the Championship with Peterborough. He has made eight appearances in the league and showed his strength as a defensive option for the club.

1. Gavin Kilkenny

AFC Bournemouth – Centre Midfield – 21-years-old

It is a surprise that Kenny did not call up Kilkenny for this set of games. For a young player, he has shown great composure and strength on the ball for a Championship-topping Bournemouth side. He has made 11 starts for the club already this year making Scott Parker’s side proud as one of their homegrown talents.

Surely a call-up will be coming soon for the young man as he continues to hear stories about international duty from his teammates Robbie Brady and Mark Travers.

To read more from this writer, click here.

And to read more in-depth and up-to-date Ireland and international club football news, click here.

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