Friendly
31.03.2009 at 15:30 - Bratislava
Republic of Ireland Under-19 team manager Sean McCaffrey has today (Tuesday) named his 18-man squad for next week’s pair of friendly matches against Slovakia in Bratislava which will their final preparatory games before the UEFA Under-19 Championship Elite phase qualifiers take place in June.
Ireland face Slovakia on Tuesday, March 31st (15.30hrs) before the nations meet again on Thursday, April 2nd (11.00hrs).
McCaffrey views these pair of matches as vital warm-up for the qualifiers from June 5-10 when Ireland will battle with Switzerland, Sweden and group hosts Belgium for the one available place at the eight-nation final tournament in Ukraine.
“I will be looking for some good performances and hopefully decent results from our lads against Slovakia next week,” said the manager.
“We are getting closer to the UEFA Elite qualifiers and it’s important that we start focussing on those matches in June. Therefore, these two games are crucial as it gives us the opportunity to get the balance of the team right.
“At this stage of the season, we probably know our best team but there is a chance for players to impress and enhance their prospects of inclusion in the squad for the qualifiers."
Newcastle United defender Callum Morris (pictured left) has overcome the injury which kept him out of the first phase qualifiers in November and is recalled while there’s a debut in the squad for Barnsley forward Jamil Adam.
“Callum did well for us on his debut matches at the Midlands International tournament last August but unfortunately sustained an injury,” explained McCaffrey.
“Terry Conroy, who is the FAI’s Welfare Officer in Britain, brought Jamil Adam to our attention. He qualifies through parentage and was keen to represent Ireland. He is a player that can play on the wing or just off the main striker, so he could give us something different in attack. Like a lot of this squad, he is still Under-18 and is eligible to play again at this level next season.”
Under-19 Friendly Internationals
Tuesday, March 31 (15.30 hrs)
Republic of Ireland v Slovakia
Bratislava, Slovakia
Thursday, April 2 (11.00 hrs)
Republic of Ireland v Slovakia
Bratislava, Slovakia
Republic of Ireland Under-19 Squad:
Harry Lee - Charlton Athletic
Kieron Thorpe - Crystal Palace
Lanre Oyebanjo - Histon
Mark Connolly - Wolverhampton Wanderers
Danny Kelly - Norwich City
Robert Kiernan - Watford
Gavin Gunning - Blackburn Rovers
Damien McCrory - Plymouth Argyle
Greg Cunningham - Manchester City
Conor Clifford - Chelsea
Gearoid Morrissey - Blackburn Rovers
Richie Towell - Celtic
Aaron Doran - Blackburn Rovers
Robert Brady - Manchester United
Jamil Adam - Barnsley
Joe Mason - Plymouth Argyle
Callum Morris - Newcastle Utd
Ronan Murray - Ipswich Town.
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