A first under-21 call-up for Trevor Clarke as four League of Ireland players make the cut

SSE Airtricity League players Trevor Clarke (Shamrock Rovers), Ronan Curtis (Derry City) and Rory Hale (Galway United) have been included in Noel King’s 24-man Ireland U21 squad for the upcoming UEFA U21 European Championships qualifying matches against Norway and Israel.

 

Burton Albion defender Ryan Delaney, who is currently on-loan at Cork City, has also made the squad.

 

The Republic of Ireland are currently top of Group 5 having recorded wins over Kosovo (1-0) and Azerbaijan (3-1).

 

Noel King’s side play Norway on Thursday, October 5th (kick-off 7.45pm) followed by Israel on Monday October 9th (kick-off 3.30pm). Both games will be played at Tallaght Stadium.

 

Whilst delighted with the unbeaten start to the campaign, Ireland U21 manager Noel King knows his side face a tough challenge against two sides that have qualified for the final tournament previously.

 



"We're really looking forward to next week. We go into the games top of the group and the squad have shown real promise in our first two matches.

 

"The challenge now is to keep those standards high and keep improving through what will be two difficult games.

 

“Both Norway and Israel have qualified for the European Championships in recent years so we need to be at our very best to get the positive results we require.”

 



King must first hope that all his squad make it through the weekend fixtures without picking up any knocks.

 

“As is the norm, we must now wait by the phone until the weekend is over and keep our fingers crossed everyone comes through from their games unscathed.

 

“I know the players are looking forward to the challenge ahead of them and hopefully with a good crowd at Tallaght Stadium as we look to get three wins in a row."

 

Tickets for the two games will be available on the day of the game priced at €10 for adults and €5 for children/students/OAPs. Entry is free for FAI season ticket holders, Shamrock Rovers season ticket

holders and IT Tallaght students.

 

Republic of Ireland U21 squad to face Norway and Israel:

 

Goalkeepers: Kieran O'Hara (Manchester United), Liam Bossin (Nottingham Forest).

 

Defenders: Danny Kane (Huddersfield), Ryan Sweeney (Stoke City, on loan at Bristol Rovers), Shaun Donnellan (West Bromwich Albion, on loan at Walsall), Declan Rice (West Ham United), Corey Whelan (Liverpool), Ryan Delaney (Burton Albion, on loan at Cork City), Trevor Clarke (Shamrock Rovers)

 

Midfielders: Josh Cullen (West Ham, on loan at Bolton Wanderers), Harry Charsley (Everton), Conor Shaughnessy (Leeds United), Liam Kinsella (Walsall), Jake Mulraney (Inverness Caledonian Thistle), Connor Ronan (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Olamide Shodipo (QPR), Connor Dimaio (Chesterfield), Rory Hale (Galway United), Jake Doyle Hayes (Aston Villa), Dessie Hutchinson (Brighton and Hove Albion).

 

Attackers: Reece Grego Cox (QPR), Ryan Manning (QPR), Ronan Curtis (Derry City), Joe Quigley (Bournemouth, on loan at Newport County).