Ireland Under-21s Head Coach Jim Crawford has named a 25-man squad for friendlies against Croatia and England this coming week.
The young boys in green will meet up tomorrow before heading to the Croatian capital of Zagreb. They face the hosts on Friday, June 7 (kick-off at 5pm Irish time) before turning their attentions to the England Under-20s on Tuesday, June 11 (kick-off at 3pm Irish time).
There are first-time Ireland call-ups for Conan Noonan of Shamrock Rovers and Accrington Stanley defender Connor O’Brien.
Noonan is rewarded following an impressive start to the season that has seen him record four assists for his club so far this season.
O’Brien, who qualifies through his father from Drogheda, has been a main stay in the Accrington Stanley side in League 2 this season.
CONFIRMED | Ireland U21 squad for friendlies against Croatia and England U20s 🇮🇪
▪️First call-ups for Conan Noonan and Connor O’Brien
▪️Lawal, Moran and Keeley to join squad
Fri, June 7 | 🇭🇷 v 🇮🇪 | KO 5pm
Tue, June 11 | 🇮🇪 v 🏴 | KO 3pm
📝 https://t.co/Z8gQ1EqzfR#IRLU21 |… pic.twitter.com/yLZ28O41U1— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) June 3, 2024
Crawford is also boosted by the return of Ollie O’Neill (Leyton Orient), Aidomo Emakhu (Millwall), Johnny Kenny (Shamrock Rovers), James Abankwah (Udinese) and Killian Cahill (Brighton & Hove Albion), who all missed the trip to San Marino in March.
Tayo Adaramola, Zak Gilsenan, Sean Grehan, Killian Phillips, and Andrew Wogan are ruled out of the trip, with the latter due to sit the Leaving Cert.
Bosun Lawal, Josh Keeley and Andrew Moran will also join the squad, having been involved in John O’Shea’s senior men’s team.
Republic of Ireland Under-21s Squad
Goalkeepers: Tiernan Brooks (Notts County), Killian Cahill (Brighton & Hove Albion),
Josh Keeley (Tottenham Hotspur),
Defenders: James Abankwah (Udinese), Sam Curtis (Sheffield United), Anselmo Garcia MacNulty (PEC Zwolle), Bosun Lawal (Celtic), Alex Murphy (Newcastle United), Connor O’Brien (Accrington Stanley), Connor O’Riordan (Blackburn Rovers), Sean Roughan (Lincoln City)
Midfielders: Baba Adeeko (Wigan Athletic), Matt Healy (Royal Francis Borains), Joe Hodge (Wolves), Andrew Moran (Brighton & Hove Albion), Conan Noonan (Shamrock Rovers), Rocco Vata (Celtic)
Forwards: Sinclair Armstrong (QPR), Aidomo Emakhu (Millwall), Calum Kavanagh (Bradford City), Johnny Kenny (Shamrock Rovers, on loan from Celtic), Mark O’Mahony (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ollie O’Neill (Leyton Orient), Armstrong Oko-Flex (FC Zurich), Tony Springett (Norwich City),
Republic of Ireland Under-21 June Internationals
Friday, June 7: Croatia U21 v Ireland U21, Gradski Stadion, Vrbovec, Zagreb, KO 5pm (Irish time) / 6pm (local time)
Tuesday, June 11: England U20 vs. Ireland U21, Gradski Stadion, Vrbovec, Zagreb, KO 3pm (Irish time) / 4pm (local time)
