Four League of Ireland Players named in Irish U21 squad

Republic of Ireland Under 21 Manager Noel King has today announced a 22-man squad for two upcoming friendlies against the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

The two games are part of a five-day training camp in La Manga, Spain as King looks to prepare his side for the upcoming 2019 UEFA Under 21 European Championship qualifying campaign.

The squad which contains a total of 15 uncapped players also includes four League of Ireland players from four separate clubs along with former UCD midfielder Dylan Watts, who recently transferred to Premier League champions Leicester City.

Speaking following the inclusion of Shamrock Rovers' defender Sean Heaney, Derry City midfielder Ronan Curtis, St. Patrick's Athletic midfielder Jamie McGrath and Dundalk forward Ciaran O'Connor, Ireland manager Noel King was keen to stress that the League is producing players who deserve to be included.

“We have always had a strong representation of SSE Airtricity League players in the Under 21 squad with Kevin O'Connor and Sean Maguire, who both helped Cork City win the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup last weekend, in our most recent squad.”

“There has been a steady flow of League players in our squads, which shows that the League is producing players and that they are there on merit. It is when they come into the squad whether they can step up to international football. That is why we include them,” King said.

With 15 uncapped players being named in this squad, including Walsall's Liam Kinsella, son of Drogheda United first team coach and former senior international Mark and Everton forward Tyrone Duffus, King said that this camp is an opportunity to get to know the players and assess their ability at a high international level.

“This camp is an opportunity to get to know the players, their characters, and if they are best suited to our style and playing international football, which is very important.

“The more time we get with the players the quicker we get to know our strongest team. So we will use this time to make assessments over these players and hope that we rise to the challenge of the games," King said.

King is hopeful ahead of the upcoming campaign, as he feels he is already at an advanced stage in building his squad.

“Czech Republic will be strong and Slovakia are technically very good, so they are good games for us to get and it's important that we learn as much as we can from them.

“We will know a lot more about these players after the two games and that is what this is all about. But I think we are more advanced at this stage in building the base of our squad and that gives us hope for the coming campaign,” King said.

Fixtures
Saturday, November 12: Republic of Ireland v Czech Republic, KO 17:30
Tuesday, November 15: Republic of Ireland v Slovakia, KO 13:00

Republic of Ireland Under 21 Squad
Goalkeepers: Liam Bossin (Anderlecht), Kieran O'Hara (Manchester United).
 

Defenders: Noe Baba (Birmingham City), Danny Kane (Huddersfield Town), Ryan Sweeney (Stoke City), Sean Heaney (Shamrock Rovers), Declan Rice (West Ham United), Corey Whelan (Liverpool), Shaun Donnellan (West Bromwich Albion), Dylan Barnett (Brighton & Hove Albion).

Midfielders: Josh Cullen (on loan at Bradford City from West Ham United), Jack Byrne (on loan at Blackburn Rovers from Manchester City), Ronan Curtis (Derry City), Dylan Watts (Leicester City), Connor Dimaio (Chesterfield), Liam Kinsella (Walsall), Jamie McGrath (St Patrick's Athletic), Harry Charsley (Everton).
 

Forwards: Tyrone Duffus (Everton), Olamide Shodipo (Queens Park Rangers), Ciaran O'Connor (Dundalk), Jake Mulraney (Inverness Caledonian Thistle).