European Qualifier
07.09.2010 at 16:00 - Izmir
The Republic of Ireland Under-21s have been forced to make a number of changes to the squad ahead of Tuesday’s UEFA European Championship qualifier against Turkey.
Paddy Madden (Bohemians), Seamus Conneely (Galway United) and Karl Sheppard (Galway United) have all been drafted into the squad to replace Alan Judge (groin), Gavin Gunning (groin), Anthony Stokes (suspended), Eddie Nolan (suspended) and Shane O’Connor (hamstring).
Judge and Gunning both picked-up injuries during Friday night’s match against Switzerland in Lugano, which Ireland were unlucky to lose 1-0. Stokes and Nolan both received yellow cards during the match, ruling them out of Tuesday’s final UEFA European Championship qualifying match. O’Connor, who himself was a late replacement for the injured Owen Garvan, injured himself in training on Thursday and could play no part in Friday’s match.
Temporary Under-21 manager Wim Koevermans was disappointed to lose against Switzerland considering the number of goal scoring chances the team created. Having created eight chances in the first half, Koevermans felt his team should have wrapped-up the match in the first period.
“It was a strange game,” he said. “In the first half we played very well and created some great chances, but it’s not enough to create chances you also have to score them. If we had scored two or three of them then it probably would have been game over, but the Swiss made a change to their midfield at half time and after two minutes of the second half they scored. The game turned a little bit in the second half. We brought on an extra striker to try to get the equaliser but it wasn’t to be. We deserved to get a goal but unfortunately it didn’t happen.”
Two more Airtricity League players have been drafted into the Republic of Ireland Under-21 squad ahead of tomorrow’s UEFA European Championship qualifier against Turkey. Shane McEleney (Derry City) and Daniel Kearns (Dundalk) will link-up with the squad later today and will strengthen a squad which has been hit by injury and suspension.
Five members of the squad returned to their clubs following last Friday’s match against Switzerland in Lugano. Anthony Stokes and Eddie Nolan were both booked in that match, which ruled them out of Tuesday’s game in Turkey, while Alan Judge (groin), Gavin Gunning (groin) and Shane O’Connor (hamstring) all picked-up injuries.
Paddy Madden (Bohemians), Seamus Conneely (Galway United) and Karl Sheppard (Galway United) have already linked-up with the squad and they will be joined later today by McEleney and Kearns.
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