New Ireland Under 21 manager Stephen Kenny took charge of his first international training session at Dunboyne Castle this Monday morning. The forty seven year old Dubliner provided the twenty man, largely domestic player, squad with an outline of his thoughts and intentions in relation to the playing style to be adopted by the team as they prepare for the upcoming 2021 European Championship qualifying campaign.
In tandem with his coaching team comprising Keith Andrews, Jim Crawford and Dan Connor, he guided the squad through their initial paces and the groundwork will continue again tomorrow. This initial domestic gathering will be completed with a match against the Republic of Ireland Amateur International side managed by Gerry Davis at Home Farm FC, Whitehall on Wednesday evening at 7.45pm.
There were three changes to the original squad, with Aaron Drinan, Jack Keaney and Sam Todd replacing the injured pair JJ Lunney and John Mahon while Ronan Hale was withdrawn because of a competitive cup commitment with his Irish League club Crusaders.
Republic of Ireland U21 Training Squad
Goalkeepers: Conor Kearns(UCD), Ross Treacy(Dundalk)
Defenders: Trevor Clarke(Shamrock Rovers), Darragh Leahy(Bohemian), Andy Lyons(Bohemian), Conor McCarthy(Cork City), Liam Scales(UCD), Sam Todd(Finn Harps)
Midfielders: Aaron Bolger(Cardiff City), Brandon Kavanagh(Shamrock Rovers), Jack Keaney(Sligo Rovers), Jamie Lennon(St Patrick’s Athletic), Daniel Mandriou(Bohemian), Robbie McCourt(Bohemian)
Forwards: Aaron Drinan(Ipswich Town), Zachery Elbouzedi(Waterford), Neil Farrugia(UCD), Will Fitzgerald(Limerick), Michael O’Connor(Linfield), Karl O’Sullivan(Limerick)