Republic of Ireland managers Mick McCarthy and Stephen Kenny continue preparations with their respective Senior and U21 squads for the competitive tasks they will both face in the coming weeks.
A thigh strain has forced the withdrawal of Luca Connell but there are no further injury reports for the senior squad with the trio of Conor Hourihane, Glenn Whelan and Richard Keogh who were involved in the Championship play-off final at Wembley yesterday set to join the Group when they re-assemble on Saturday. Josh Cullen, who was excellent for his loan club Charlton Athletic as they won promotion to the Championship on Sunday, has already linked up with the squad.
A hamstring injury has forced the withdrawal of UCD winger Neil Farrugia from the U21 squad and he will be replaced by Josh Barrett of Reading.
The respective Senior and U21 sides played each other in a closed door training match on Thursday afternoon. The senior side led through a goal from Scott Hogan early in the second half but the U21s responded with two goals from half-time substitute Jack Taylor of Barnet.
Mick McCarthy gave all of his available players a run-out with the centre back pairing of John Egan and Kevin Long completing the full ninety minutes together with midfielder Josh Cullen, whom McCarthy described as the best player on the pitch.
The senior side did create several scoring opportunities but were thwarted on a number of occasions by UCD goalkeeper Conor Kearns. Fellow goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher missed the game as he has been named in the extended Liverpool squad for the Champions League meeting with Tottenham Hotspur in Madrid on Saturday evening. He will link up with the U21 squad in Toulon on Sunday.