John Joe Patrick Finn Benoa, Aidemo Emakhu, Cristiano Fitzgerald, Oisin Gallagher, Cian Hayes, Johnny Kenny, Jevon Mills, Josh Seary and Harry Vaughan are all set to don the green for the first time.

Mohan will take his squad to the south of Spain as he prepares for the UEFA Under-19 European Qualifiers in Bulgaria next month – Bulgaria, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro are all in Ireland’s group.

The Boys in Green face Sweden MU19 on Friday, October 8 and again on Monday, October 11.

Friday’s game will be 689 days since Tom Mohan was last on the touchline for an international fixture, a qualifier against Austria in November 2019.

Speaking about the almost two-year wait to return to action, Mohan said: “We’re really looking forward to the return to matches.

“The squad we’ve selected is a culmination of hard work from our MU19s staff and FAI scouts in Ireland and the UK who have covered numerous games. It has allowed us to monitor and assess a large group of players during assessment days and training camps in Ireland and England prior to selecting the squad for these friendly games against Sweden.

“It’s so good to finally have clarity that games can go ahead. We’re delighted to have a squad together again after preparing for such a long time and no doubt Sweden will be a tough opponent. They are a strong well organised side with quality attacking Players which will provide a test for us and that’s what we want.

“I’m sure there will be a good edge to the games as Players will be fighting for places for the European qualifiers.”

Republic of Ireland Men’s Under-19 Squad 

Goalkeepers: Arlo Doherty (Leicester City), Dan Rose (Schalke 04)

Defenders: James Abankwah (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Tayo Adaramola (Crystal Palace),  Val Adedokun (Brentford), Bosun Lawal (Celtic), Anselmo Garcia MacNulty (Wolfsburg), Jevon Mills (Hull City), Josh Seary (Preston North End)

Midfielders: John Joe Patrick Finn Benoa (Getafe), Kian Corbally (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Evan Caffrey (UCD), Oisin Gallagher (Lincoln City), Ben McCormack (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Ed McJannett (Luton Town), Harry Vaughan (Oldham Athletic)

Forwards: Aidomo Emakhu (Shamrock Rovers)*, Cristiano Fitzgerald (Boavista), Zak Gilsenan (Blackburn Rovers), Cian Hayes (Fleetwood Town), Johnny Kenny (Sligo Rovers)**, Jamie Mullins (Bohemians), Luke Pearce (Southampton)

*Will join up with the MU19s after game one.
**Will join up with MU19 after game one, subject to Under-21s call-up.

International Friendly Fixtures (all times are Irish time) 

Friday, October 8 | Sweden MU19 v Republic of Ireland MU19, TBC, KO 2.30 pm
Monday, October 11 | Republic of Ireland MU19 v Sweden MU19, TBC, 11 am

The post Nine players set for Ireland U19 debut against Sweden appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Once dubbed the ‘Irish Messi’ during his time at Barcelona, Zak Gilsenan has been included in an underage Ireland squad for the first time having previously turned out for Australia – the country of his birth.

Tom Mohan’s 35-man Ireland u19 training squad was revealed today, including a number of interesting names.

One of the more reputable names included in the squad is 16-year-old Josh Ireland, son of former Irish international Stephen. Ireland previously represented England at u15 level, showing just how highly rated he is just like the best pokies online.

Sheffield United man Leo Gaxha, who most recently represented Albania, will also link up with the side. Gaxha is of Albanian heritage but was born and spent the majority of his life growing up in Kerry.

Recently named Watford Academy Player of the Season Bosun Lawal has also been included in the squad. The defender/midfielder had a fantastic season at underage level and big things are expected of him at the club.

The players have already met up and had their first session yesterday. The camp is set to last for 3 days, meaning players will return to their clubs tomorrow. All players in this selection ply their trade overseas with a domestic based squad expected to be announced soon. To pass the time why not play online casino and enjoy some free spins.

The full list is as follows:

Aaron O’Reilly (Aston Villa), Connor Barratt (Birmingham City), Will Blease (Blackburn Rovers), Zak Gilsenan (Blackburn Rovers), Rio McEvoy (Bolton Wanderers), Ruairi Behan (Burnley), Ciaran Gilligan (Burton Albion), Jay McGrath (Coventry City), Fionn O’Brien (Coventry City), Noah Watson (Crystal Palace), Ola Ibrahim (Derby County), Cian Kelly Caprani (Derby County), Cian Coleman (Leeds United), Ben Andreucci (Leeds United), Arlo Doherty (Leicester City), Billy Brooks (Lincoln City), Matthew Boylan (Lincoln City), Ed McJannett (Luton Town), Owen Mason (Mansfield Town), Calum Kavanagh (Middlesbrough), Sam Blair (Norwich City), Osakpolor Solomon (Nottingham Forest), Josh Seary (Preston North End), Harry Nevin (Preston North End), Jacob Slater (Preston North End), Sinclair Armstrong (QPR), Harvey Cullinan (Sheffield United), Leonardo Gaxha (Sheffield United), Luke Pearce (Southampton), Noah Jauny (Stade Brestois), David Okagbue (Stoke City), Joshua Ireland (Stoke City), Sam Knowles (Stoke City), Caden Kelly (Sunderland), Aaron Maguire (Tottenham Hotspur), Bosun Lawal (Watford), Joe O’Shaugnessy (Wolves).

The post ‘Irish Messi’ included in Ireland u19 training camp squad appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

In Nyon today Tom Mohan’s Republic of Ireland Under-19 side were drawn in Group 6 against Bulgaria, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro.

Colin O’Brien’s Republic of Ireland Under-17s are in Group 5 of the qualifying competition with Poland, North Macedonia and Andorra.

Both the Under-19 and Under-17 sides were top seeds for the draw as they are ranked among UEFA’s top 10, with the teams 9th and 10th places respectively.

Tom Mohan’s reaction

Republic of Ireland Under-19 Head Coach Tom Mohan, said of today’s draw:

“There’s no easy games in international football. Bulgaria and Bosnia-Herzegovina have been very good at this level. Montenegro are a competitive and difficult opponent at this level too.”

Tournament hosts Slovakia qualify directly for the final tournament in summer 2022. Top seeds Portugal receive a bye to the elite round in spring 2022.

Hosts will be appointed to stage the mini-tournaments played either between 30 August and 7 September, 4 and 12 October, or 8 and 16 November 2021.

The top two in each group plus the third-placed team with the best record against the leading pair in their section progress to join Portugal in the elite round.

UEFA U-17 Qualifiers

Reacting to the Under-17 draw, Republic of Ireland Head Coach Colin O’Brien said:

“It’s great to see the draw and it gives us games to aim for in 2021. We now have an opportunity to plan for our opponents.

“The 2005 age group played Poland twice last year in Galway. They will be Under-17s by the time we play these qualifiers. I managed against Andorra last year. North Macedonia is a new challenge for us but we look forward to the challenge of the group.”

Qualifying Tournament 

Matches will be played between 1 July and 16 November 2021, with mini-tournament dates and hosts yet to be confirmed.

The top two teams in each group will join top seeds Netherlands and Spain in the spring 2022 elite round. The four third-placed teams with the best records against the top two in their section will also enter the elite round.

Hosts Israel qualify directly for the final tournament in May 2022.

The post Republic of Ireland U-19s & U-17s learn of European qualification opponents appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.