Friendly
11.05.2010 at 16:30 - Ohrid City Stadium
Republic of Ireland Under-18 manager Sean McCaffrey has named an 18-player squad for the upcoming double-header friendly away to Macedonia on Tuesday, May 11 and Thursday, May 13.
These pair of matches will act as the beginning of preparations for the 2010/11 Under-19 European Championship which kick-off for Ireland in October when they take on Serbia, Luxembourg and mini-group hosts Bulgaria in the first phase of the qualifying series.
Eight players amongst McCaffrey's squad play their club football in Ireland while one of the English-based players, Ryan Connolly, made his first-team debut for Derby County on Sunday as a substitute in their Championship game against Cardiff City.
Shamrock Rovers duo Craig Walsh and Jordan Keegan are selected, as is Derry City's in-form striker Patrick McEleney.
Walsh and Belvedere winger Sean Stewart are currently enrolled in the Dublin-based FAI/FAS course.
"These two matches provide us the opportunity to assemble the players and start working towards the UEFA qualifying series later in the year," said McCaffrey, who manages Ireland's U17, U18 and U19 squads.
"A lot of these lads were involved in our final U17 game of last season when we beat Poland at Tallaght and it's important to see them in action now and assess them."
He added: "Macedonia are sure to gives us the tests we require. It's been noticeable how they've improved each time we've played them at Youth level over recent years and we can learn a lot about our players from these exercises."
Republic of Ireland Under-18 squad:
Aaron McCarey - Wolverhampton Wanderers
Robert Egan - Kilmallock
Michael Harriman - Queens Park Rangers
Danny Joyce - Reading
Anthony O'Connor - Blackburn Rovers
Joe Shaughnessy - Aberdeen
Eoghan Osbourne - Drogheda United
Sean Stewart - Belvedere
Jeff Hendrick - Derby County
Paudie Quinn - Fulham
Craig Walsh - Shamrock Rovers
Thomas McBride - Derry City
Stephen Folan - Newcastle United
Shane Murray - Sheffield United
Jordan Keegan - Shamrock Rovers
Patrick McEleney - Derry City
Robert Benson - Athlone Town
Michael Rafter - Colchester United
Ryan Connolly - Derby County
Under-18 Friendly Internationals
Tuesday May 11
Macedonia v Republic of Ireland - Ohrid City Stadium (4.30pm)
Thursday May 13
Macedonia v Republic of Ireland - Ohrid City Stadium (4.30pm).
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