Three League of Ireland players in under-19 Euro qualifying squad

Ireland under 19 manager Tom Mohan has announced his 20-man squad for the upcoming UEFA European Championship Qualifiers to face Slovakia, Kosovo and host nation, Portugal.

Mohan leads his charges into the latest round of qualifiers having registered an encouraging seven points out of a possible nine in recent showings against Cyprus, Serbia and Azerbaijan at the RSC in Waterford.

Mohan will have to contend without the services of Jayson Molumby of Brighton & Hove Albion and Neil Farrugia of UCD, who are both nursing injuries, while Shamrock Rovers star Aaron Bolger misses out on the three games through suspension.

It is not all doom and gloom for Mohan, however, as he has been able to call on the services of three League of Ireland stars in Aaron Dobbs, who is on loan at Wexford from Shamrock Rovers, Daniel McKenna, who plies his trade on loan at the Carlisle Grounds from Wolverhampton Wanderers, and St Patrick’s Athletic goalkeeper Brian Maher.

The Republic of Ireland Under 19 squad kick off their UEFA European Under-19 Championship Elite Round Group 5 campaign with a game against Slovakia on Wednesday the 21^st of March at 3pm.

They play Kosovo in the next round of fixtures on Sunday the 24^th and finish off with a clash against host nation Portugal on Tuesday, March 27.

Republic of Ireland under-19 squad

Goalkeepers: Brian Maher (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Mark Travers (AFC Bournemouth)

Defenders: Canice Carroll (Oxford United), Jordan Doherty (Sheffield United), James Finnerty (Aston Villa), Lee O’Connor (Manchester United), Dara O’Shea (West Bromwich Albion - on loan at Hereford), Tyreke Wilson (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Conor Coventry (West Ham United), Kian Flanagan (Crystal Palace), Stephen Mallon (Sheffield United), Daniel McKenna (Wolverhampton Wanderers - on loan at Bray Wanderers), Callum Nicell (Leeds United), Thomas O’Connor (Southampton), Rian O’Sullivan (Brighton & Hove Albion), Rowan Roache (Blackpool)

Forwards: Jonathan Afolabi (Southampton), Aaron Connolly (Brighton and Hove Albion), Aaron Dobbs (Shamrock Rovers - on loan at Wexford), Michael Obafemi (Southampton).

Fixtures - UEFA European Under-19 Championship Elite Round Group 5

Wednesday, March 21: Slovakia v Republic of Ireland, Primeiro de Maio, Braga, KO 15:00 (15:00 Irish Time)

Saturday, March 24: Republic of Ireland v Kosovo, Estádio dos Arcos, Vila do Conde, KO 15:00 (15:00 Irish Time)

Tuesday, March 27: Republic of Ireland v Portugal, Estádio Cidade de Barcelos, Barcelos, KO 17:00 (17:00 Irish Time).