International Friendly Preview: Republic of Ireland U21s v England C

IRELAND U21

Ireland U21s host England C at Eamonn Deacy Park in Galway this Bank Holiday Monday with a squad that features the usual mixture of League of Ireland players and those plying their trade overseas.

The three League of Ireland players in the squad are Les Desmond and Sean Hoare of St. Patrick’s Athletic and John Kavanagh of Cork City. Les Desmond has impressed so far this season with the Saints especially.

Ireland manager Noel King is looking forward to challenge England will provide.

"These two fixtures will be excellent tests for us. Both the England teams will be older than our players so that in itself will present a test,” he told the FAI Official website.

"We have started our campaign with three points and will look to add another three points when we got to Andorra in September so this week coming up will give us a very good opportunity to work with the players.”

Republic of Ireland U21 Squad:

Daniel Rogers (Aberdeen FC), Eric Grimes (Leeds United FC), Liam Bossin (RSC Anderlecht), Jack Connors (Dagenham & Redbridge FC), Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers FC), Sean Kavanagh (Fulham FC), Shane Griffin (Reading FC), Glen Rea (Brighton & Hove Albion FC), Kenneth McEvoy (Tottenham Hotspur FC), Alan Browne (Preston North End FC), Shamir Goodwin (Brighton & Hove Albion FC), Pierce Sweeney (Reading FC), Callum O’Dowda (Oxford United FC), Sean Long (Reading FC), Conor Wilkinson (Bolton Wanderers FC), Jack Byrne (Manchester City FC), Kyle Callan-McFadden (Norwich City FC), Bradley Garmston (West Bromwich Albion FC), Sean Maguire (West Ham United FC), Lee Desmond (St Patrick’s Athletic FC), John Kavanagh (Cork City FC), Sean Hoare (St Patrick’s Athletic FC)

England C

The England C squad – comprised of players from the Conference and below – will be looking forward to this fixture in Galway as a chance to shine for those who have not yet wrapped up contracts for next season yet.
 

They will be well versed in facing under 21 opposition who provide most of their opposition across Europe. Indeed, last season they faced a Turkey under 21 team which featured three players who had played Champions League football already.

Nevertheless, Paul Fairclough is expecting a tough clash and an opportunity to lay plans for the future as the told the-fa.com.

"We will face a very talented Under 21 side which will be a mix of League of Ireland players together with those playing in England.  This game provides me with an opportunity to plan for the forthcoming ICT games which will begin later in the year.” 

Watch out for Louis Moult and Jarrett Rivers who starred in Wrexham’s run to the FA Trophy final and Blyth Spartans FA Cup run this season and have been rewarded with the ever prestigious England C call up.

England C squad

Calum Kitscha (Hayes & Yeading United), Andrew Coughlin (Wrexham), Simeon Akinola (Braintree Town), James Bolton (Halifax Town), Ben Heneghan (Chester), Kingsley James (Chester), Matthew Pearson (Halifax Town), Sean Raggett (Dover Athletic), Alex Woodyard (Concord Rangers), Jake Gallagher (Welling United), Charlie Goode (Hendon), Callum Chettle (Ilkeston), Aaron Williams (Rushall Olympic), Louis Moult (Wrexham), Jarrett Rivers (Blyth Spartans)

PREDICTION

2-2