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13.04.2010 at 19:00 - Assen
Republic of Ireland Under-15 team manager John Morling feels that his squad will learn plenty from this weeks double-header away to the Netherlands.
The youngest international squad under the FAI umbrella played a pair of games on a trip to the Aspire Academy in Qatar last December and contest their first international games inside Europe against the Dutch this week, starting tonight in Assen (7pm).
Speaking from their team base on Monday night, Morling explained the purpose of these two run-outs.
"This is a new group of players and, apart from a few assessment days and the trip to Qatar in December, they have not been together as a group," he said.
"We have held three training sessions in the past few days since assembling and the spirit is good amongst the group.
"The players will face one of Europes top-ten Grade One nations this week and over the course of this season and next at Under-16 level we will play against a variety of Grade One, Two and Three teams.
"I am glad that we are starting off against the Dutch because our players will gain valuable experience of top international football by pitting themselves against players from Ajax and PSV Eindhoven.
"The real test will be to see how much the squad has improved in the time between these matches and the next occasion we face a Grade One nation which will probably be in the middle of next season.
"This week is about more than just about football. It gives us the chance to get to know the 18 players better both in terms of on the pitch and off it."
He added: "This is a two-year process with the ultimate aim to hand over a group of players to Under-17 Sean McCaffrey for their first UEFA qualifying campaign."
Republic of Ireland Under-15 Squad:
Sam Byrne - St. Josephs Boys
Sean Coyne - Cherry Orchard
Shane Fagan - Cherry Orchard
Eric Grimes - Ringmahon Rangers
Dylan Hayes - St. Josephs Boys
Jonathon Leddy - Cavan Shamrocks
Steven McCarthy - Skibbereen
Kyle McFadden - Swilly Rovers
Thomas Mulroney - Crumlin United
Darren Murphy - Rockmount
Glody Nsay - Cherry Orchard
Sam O Connor - Malahide United
Gary O Neill - Kingdom Boys
Ryan O Reilly - Ballyjamesduff
Daniel O Reilly - Cherry Orchard
Adam Wixted - Stella Maris
Sean Long - Cherry Orchard
James Mullaney - Portlaoise
Under-15 Internationals:
Tuesday April 13 (7pm)
Netherlands v Republic of Ireland
Assen
Thursday April 15 (11am)
Netherlands v Republic of Ireland
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