Young Boys in Green on cusp of history as they seek first qualification to under-21 Euro finals

It is a massive double header coming up for Jim Crawford’s Republic of Ireland squad who could become the first Irish side to qualify for the men’s under-21 European Championship.

Their final two qualifiers are fast approaching - first up next Friday they face Norway in Turner’s Cross before an away trip to take on Italy the following Tuesday. Victory over the Norwegians would at the very least seal a play-off place but they still have qualification outright in their own hands. Beat both opponents and they will top their qualifying group and head automatically to the tournament in Slovakia next summer.

Each group winner along with the three best runners-up will qualify directly for the finals, while the remaining six runners-ups advance to the play-offs (with three ties played home and away sending three more teams to the Euros).

Ireland are locked in a three-way battle for qualification with the two teams they face this month but only Italy and Ireland can still claim the automatic qualifying spot by winning the group. The Azzurri are already guaranteed a play-off while Norway can only reach the play-off if they can jump above the Boys in Green after the final two games. 

With 17 points, Ireland sit second in the table two points clear of Norway, while Italy top the group by four points with one game remaining for them which is against Ireland on 15^th October in Trieste’s Stadio Nereo Rocco. Ireland’s game in hand on the Italians is home to Norway on 11th October in Cork.

In the most recent double header, Ireland secured four points. They started with an excellent 1-0 away win in Turkey but could only draw with Latvia in the second game which was played at Tallaght Stadium. 

There are two League of Ireland players in the squad for these Norway and Italy matches with Shamrock Rovers’ Johnny Kenny and St. Patrick’s Athletic Mason Melia called up by manager Jim Crawford. With Pat’s playing through the ‘international break’, 17-year-old Melia will miss the Athletic’s away trip to Bohs on 14th October but the Hoops aren’t playing during this time so Kenny won’t miss a Rovers match.

Kenny, who was a second half substitute replacing former Hoop Sinclair Armstrong in the game in Latvia, was talking recently about his experience with the under-21 side to the Shamrock Rovers match programme. 

“It incredible to be part of that Ireland squad,” said Kenny. “It is the ultimate honour in football to play for your country. The lads were brilliant over in Turkey. I think we might have let ourselves down against Latvia in Tallaght and we didn't turn up to the levels that we should have but it is still in our hands. 

“We want to top the group and we have Norway next and we'll take them head on. Jim [Crawford] is brilliant to work with. He is very good with us individually and as a collective. We have some serious players in the squad and that is why we are doing so good. We gel well as a team.”

Republic of Ireland Under-21s Squad

Goalkeepers: Tiernan Brooks (Gateshead), Killian Cahill (Brighton & Hove Albion), Josh Keeley (Leyton Orient, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur)

Defenders: James Abankwah (Udinese), Emmanuel Adegboyega (Dundee United, on loan from Norwich City), Tayo Adaramola (Stockport County, on loan from Crystal Palace), Sam Curtis (Peterborough United, on loan from Sheffield United), Anselmo Garcia-MacNulty (PEC Zwolle), Connor O’Brien (Accrington Stanley), Connor O’Riordan (Cambridge United, on loan from Blackburn Rovers), Sean Roughan (Lincoln City)

Midfielders: Baba Adeeko (Wigan Athletic), Matt Healy (Royal Francs Borains), Joe Hodge (Huddersfield Town, on loan from Wolves), Andrew Moran (Stoke City, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion), Killian Phillips (St. Mirren, on loan from Crystal Palace), Rocco Vata (Watford)

Forwards: Sinclair Armstrong (Bristol City), Aidomo Emakhu (Millwall), Johnny Kenny (Shamrock Rovers), Mason Melia (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Mark O’Mahony (Portsmouth, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion), Franco Umeh (Crystal Palace)

UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifiers (Kick-Off time is Irish time) 

Friday, October 11 | Ireland U21 v Norway U21, Turner's Cross Stadium, Cork, Kick-Off 7pm.
Tuesday, October 15 | Italy U21 v Ireland U21, Stadio Nereo Rocco, Trieste, Italy, Kick-Off 5.30pm

League Report: Shamrock Rovers 2 - 0 Shelbourne https://t.co/HKuE9Ajicbpic.twitter.com/tTtQssYmUS

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