EC Elite Round
22.03.2012 at 17:00 - Sportpark Zuideinderpark, Schijndel (NED)
mes squad for qualifiers in the Netherlands...
13th Mar 2012
Republic of Ireland Under-17 manager John Morling has named his squad of 18 players for the upcoming UEFA Under-17 elite stage qualifiers in the Netherlands.
Ireland advanced to the elite phase by emerging through their first stage pool last October in Kazakhstan.
Only the top team from this four-nation group secures a place in the Slovenia-hosted finals to be played between 4-16 May.
Ireland's elite stage campaign begins on Thursday, March 22 when they face Serbia at the home of RKSV Schijndel, before they go up against reigning European champions, the Netherlands, at the same venue two days later on Saturday, March 24. Albania will provide the opposition in the last fixture on Tuesday, March 27 at SV Venray.
Morling assembles his squad this weekend in Dublin ahead of their trip to the Netherlands.
Included in the squad are FAI/Three Under-16 player of the year Kyle McFadden of Norwich City and Manchester United striker Sam Byrne. Aston Villa winger Jack Grealish has hit four goals in his last five games for Ireland.
Seven home-based players make the squad. Cherry Orchard defenders Sean Coyne and Sean Long get the nod along with Thomas Mulroney (Crumlin United), Kevin O'Connor (St. Patrick's Athletic), Alan O'Sullivan (Home Farm), Ryan McConnell (Letterkenny Rovers) and goalkeeper Peter Burke (Moville Celtic).
Morling said: "All three teams facing us in the group are strong but we'll concentrate on the opener against Serbia.
"We played Serbia in a double-header friendly last September and they, along with Czech Republic, are the best opposition we've come up against so far this season.
"Our training camp and two friendlies in the Algarve last month proved highly beneficial and we'll get some more important work done on the training pitch in the run-in to Thursday's first game."
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND UNDER-17 SQUAD:
Eric Grimes (Leeds United), Peter Burke (Moville Celtic), Sean Long (Cherry Orchard), Kyle McFadden (Norwich City), Ryan O'Reilly (Stoke City), Sean Coyne (Cherry Orchard), Bradley Lewis (Aston Villa), Ryan McConnell (Letterkenny Rovers), Dylan Hayes (Derby County), Thomas Mulroney (Crumlin United), Jonathon Leddy (Ipswich Town), Kevin O'Connor (St. Patricks Athletic), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), Dylan McGlade (Middlesbrough), Gary O'Neill (Wolves), Conor Wilkinson (Millwall), Sam Byrne (Manchester United), Alan O'Sullivan (Home Farm).
UEFA Under-17 Elite Stage Qualifying Group 5 Fixtures:
22 March 2012:
Serbia v Republic of Ireland (RKSV Schijndel - 17.00 hrs)
Netherlands v Albania (SV Venray - 19.00 hrs)
24 March 2012:
Serbia v Albania (SV Venray - 15.00 hrs)
Republic of Ireland v Netherlands (RKSV Schijndel - 17.00 hrs)
27 March 2012:
Albania v Republic of Ireland (SV Venray - 19.00 hrs)
Netherlands v Serbia (RKSV Schijndel - 19.00 hrs).
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