- Extratime Team
- Tue, May 23 2023
The Republic of Ireland has revealed its 20-man amateur international squad for the prestigious Regions Cup scheduled for June in Galicia, Spain. The announcement was made by Team Manager Gerry Davis, who underscored the challenge in selecting the squad from the multitude of Irish football talent.
"We had to make some tough choices," Davis admitted, "The process of selecting the final team was gruelling but necessary, which emphasizes how critical it is for the selected players to seize this opportunity."
This year's squad reflects the wide array of football clubs across Ireland. Notably, four players are from Rockmount FC, with further representation from Westport United, Malahide United, Home Farm FC, Cockhill Celtic, Bonagee United, Killester Donnycarney, Villa FC, Fairview Rangers, Lucan United, Newmarket, St Michael’s, Oliver Bond Celtic, Usher Celtic and Killbarrack United.
The Irish squad will open their campaign on June 9 at the Burgans Stadium Cambados in Galicia against the host team. Subsequent games will take place on June 11 against Bavaria, and on June 14 against Zenica-Doboj.
"The first match against Galicia is the most crucial," Davis pointed out, "This is where we will truly test ourselves. Spanish teams have always posed a strong challenge, and being the hosts, they will undoubtedly be even more competitive. It's a fantastic challenge to start off our campaign."
Davis cited the recent friendly match against the Basque Region as pivotal in the preparation for the Regions Cup, with the squad's selection based on performances in that game and another friendly match played the previous Saturday.
"The players who missed out this time should remember there was a significant effort made, and plenty more opportunities will be waiting for them in future internationals," Davis reassured.
The manager seems optimistic about the balance within the squad, with a combination of ambitious new talent and the seasoned wisdom of experienced players like Brendan O’Connell. "There are some really hungry players in the squad, and it’s balanced by the experience of the likes of Brendan O’Connell, so it’s a really good group we have together," Davis concluded.
Here's the full squad:
Goalkeepers: Brendan O Connell (Rockmount), Gary Cunningham (Westport United)
Defenders: Glen Daly (Malahide United), Jack McMullen (Home Farm), Lee McColgan (Cockhill Celtic), Jack Parke (Bonagee United), Adam Crowley (Rockmount), Dylan Connolly (Lucan United)
Midfielders: Stephen Chambers (Killester Donnycarney), Nathan Broderick (Rockmount), Luke Casey (Rockmount), Eoin Murphy (Rockmount), Adam Conway (Villa FC), Conor Coughlan (Fairview Rangers), Danny Ahearne (Rockmount), Jimmy Carr (St Michael’s)
Forwards: Eoin Hayes (Newmarket), Jimmy McHugh (Oliver Bond Celtic), Jordan Buckley (Usher Celtic), Derek Hyland (Killbarrack United)
