Our U21 side suffered a bitterly disappointing two one defeat by Montenegro in Podgorica this afternoon. After a calamitous start, conceding both goals in the opening nine minutes, Ireland stabilised and offered a number of threats on the hosts goal but without success. The breakthrough arrived on 74 minutes with an O’G’ following a Will Ferry corner. The opportunity to level matters arose in the 84th minutes with the award of a penalty kick but on this occasion captain Conor Coventry saw his spot-kick saved. Ireland now find themselves three points adrift of second place Italy and four behind leaders Sweden who have played one game more. With both those sides set to visit Tallaght Stadium next month the pressure will be on Jim Crawford and his charges to produce winning results. The challenge is of course made more intimidating with the knowledge that we must travel to face both in their home venues.
Team: Brian Maher; Lee O’Connor, Jake O’Brien, Mark McGuinness, Joel Bagan; Gavin Kilkenny, Conor Coventry(c), Ross Tierney; Alex Gilbert, Evan Ferguson, Will Ferry
Substitutes:
Colm Whelan for Ferguson 60′
Oliver O’Neill for Gilbert 60′
Joshua Kayode for Tierney 80′
Dawson Devoy for Kilkenny 80′
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Our U21 squad departed Dublin Airport at 2.30pm on Saturday afternoon with an expanded compliment of 29 players following approval from the various English, Welsh and German clubs for the retention of their players, the majority of whom played in the victory over Luxembourg.
Five members of the original squad have returned to their clubs – Sam Blair, Kameron Ledwidge, Oisin McEntee, Louie Watson and Tyreik Wright
Squad for Montenegro
Goalkeepers: Brian Maher (Bray Wanderers), David Odumosu (Drogheda United), Luke McNicholas (Sligo Rovers on loan at Cliftonville)
Defenders: Joel Bagan (Cardiff City), Ronan Boyce (Derry City), Andy Lyons (Bohemian), Mark McGuinness (Cardiff City), Jake O’Brien (Crystal Palace), Lee O’Connor (Glasgow Celtic-on loan at Tranmere Rovers).
Josh Honohan (Cork City), Andrew Quinn (Dundalk-on loan at Bray Wanderers), Luke Turner (Aberdeen on loan at Cliftonville)
Midfielders: Conor Coventry (West Ham United-on loan at Peterborough United), Dawson Devoy (Bohemian), Alex Gilbert (Brentford-on loan at Swindon Town), Liam Kerrigan (UCD), Gavin Kilkenny (AFC Bournemouth), Andrew Moran (Brighton & Hove Albion), Conor Noss (Borussia Monchengladbach), Ross Tierney (Bohemian),
Niall Morahan (Sligo Rovers), Killian Phillips (Drogheda United)
Forwards: Evan Ferguson (Brighton & Hove Albion), Will Ferry (Southampton-on loan at Crawley Town), Joshua Kayode (Rotherham United), Oliver O’Neill (Fulham), Colm Whelan (UCD),
Brandon Kavanagh (Shamrock Rovers-on loan at Bray Wanderers), Johnny Kenny (Sligo Rovers),
Our Republic of Ireland U21 side guided by Head Coach Jim Crawford continued their European U21 Championship qualifying campaign with a two nil victory over visitors Luxembourg in Tallaght Stadium this Friday afternoon. Ireland dominated much of the proceedings and should perhaps have added to their goal tally. The visitors did offer the occasional threat but goalkeeper Brian Murphy dealt competently with the little that came his way. Captain Conor Coventry controlled midfield and was named ‘man of the match’ whilst also converting the penalty for Ireland’s second goal. The left side duo of Joel Bagan and Tyreik Wright were particularly impressive while Liam Kerrigan, something of an unexpected starter, more than justified his inclusion and it was he who was brought down for the penalty. The first goal came on 18 minutes and was finished by Joshua Kayode after excellent build up play from Wright.
Team: Brian Maher; Lee O’Connor, Jake O’Brien, Mark McGuinness, Joel Bagan; Gavin Kilkenny, Conor Coventry(c), Ross Tierney; Liam Kerrigan, Joshua Kayode, Tyreik Wright
Substitutes:
Evan Ferguson for Kayode 69′
Conor Noss for Tierney 69′
Alex Gilbert for Kerrigan 86′
Dawson Devoy for Kilkenny 86′
We are set to face Montenegro in Podgorica on Tuesday next at 4.30pm but because there removal from the UK red list does not become effective until Monday morning while we fly to Podgorica at 2.30pm on Saturday afternoon we may be obliged to select a home based squad. With this in mind, Crawford has selected an extended squad of home based players for the match while still hoping for a dispensation which would allow him to retain the UK based players. There has been a positive response from AFC Bournemouth and Rotherham United who have given approval for Gavin Kilkenny and Joshua Kayode to travel. Oisin McEntee has been denied permission to travel by his loan club Greenock Morton.
Squad (v Luxembourg)
Goalkeepers: Sam Blair (Norwich City-on loan at Bury Town), Brian Maher (Bray Wanderers), David Odumosu (Drogheda United)
Defenders: Joel Bagan (Cardiff City), Ronan Boyce (Derry City), Kameron Ledwidge (Shelbourne), Andy Lyons (Bohemian), Oisin McEntee (Newcastle United-on loan at Greenock Morton), Mark McGuinness (Cardiff City), Jake O’Brien (Crystal Palace), Lee O’Connor (Glasgow Celtic-on loan at Tranmere Rovers)
Midfielders: Conor Coventry (West Ham United-on loan at Peterborough United), Dawson Devoy (Bohemian), Alex Gilbert (Brentford-on loan at Swindon Town), Liam Kerrigan (UCD), Gavin Kilkenny (AFC Bournemouth), Andrew Moran (Brighton & Hove Albion), Conor Noss (Borussia Monchengladbach), Ross Tierney (Bohemian), Louie Watson (Derby County)
Forwards: Evan Ferguson (Brighton & Hove Albion), Will Ferry (Southampton-on loan at Crawley Town), Joshua Kayode (Rotherham United), Oliver O’Neill (Fulham), Colm Whelan (UCD), Tyreik Wright (Aston Villa-on loan at Salford City)
Provisional Squad (v Montenegro)
Goalkeepers: Sam Blair (Norwich City-on loan at Bury Town), Brian Maher (Bray Wanderers), David Odumosu (Drogheda United), Luke McNicholas (Sligo Rovers on loan at Cliftonville)
Defenders: Joel Bagan (Cardiff City), Ronan Boyce (Derry City), Kameron Ledwidge (Shelbourne), Andy Lyons (Bohemian), Oisin McEntee (Newcastle United-on loan at Greenock Morton), Mark McGuinness (Cardiff City), Jake O’Brien (Crystal Palace), Lee O’Connor (Glasgow Celtic-on loan at Tranmere Rovers).
Josh Honohan (Cork City), Alex Murphy (Galway United), Niall O’Keefe (Waterford), Andrew Quinn (Dundalk-on loan at Bray Wanderers), Evan Weir (UCD), Luke Turner (Aberdeen on loan at Cliftonville)
Midfielders: Conor Coventry (West Ham United-on loan at Peterborough United), Dawson Devoy (Bohemian), Alex Gilbert (Brentford-on loan at Swindon Town), Liam Kerrigan (UCD), Gavin Kilkenny (AFC Bournemouth), Andrew Moran (Brighton & Hove Albion), Conor Noss (Borussia Monchengladbach), Ross Tierney (Bohemian), Louie Watson (Derby County). Evan McLaughlin (Derry City), Niall Morahan (Sligo Rovers), Darragh Nugent (Shamrock Rovers-on loan at Longford Town), Killian Phillips (Drogheda United)
Forwards: Evan Ferguson (Brighton & Hove Albion), Will Ferry (Southampton-on loan at Crawley Town), Joshua Kayode (Rotherham United), Oliver O’Neill (Fulham), Colm Whelan (UCD), Tyreik Wright (Aston Villa-on loan at Salford City)
Brandon Kavanagh (Shamrock Rovers-on loan at Bray Wanderers), Cian Kavanagh (Waterford), Johnny Kenny (Sligo Rovers), Dean Williams (Shamrock Rovers-on loan at Longford Town)