Updated at 9.00am
HAVING QUALIFIED FOR the first time in eight years, Ireland get their Uefa U17s European Championship campaign underway this morning.
Tom Mohan’s side came through the Elite Phase as one of the best runners-up back in March after earning four points in a group which also featured Poland, Greece and Belarus.
The Boys in Green’s last experience in the tournament saw then manager Sean McCaffrey bring a squad including the likes of Robbie Brady, Richie Towell, Conor Clifford, Gavin Gunning, Aaron Doran and Greg Cunningham to Turkey.
Drawn with eventual champions Spain, beaten finalists France and Switzerland, however, they lost three from three and finished bottom.
This year, the competition has doubled in size from eight teams to 16, but Ireland once again find themselves in a daunting group. First up are former winners and 2014 runners-up the Netherlands, before a meeting with 2013 beaten finalists Italy on Sunday and reigning champions England next Wednesday.
It is the definition of a ‘Group of Death’, but Mohan, who has been in the job since 2012, believes his team can shine against the best.
There’s no doubting that this is going to be a very tough group but we knew when we qualified that we’d be mixing with top quality teams no matter who you are in with,” Mohan said when the draw was made last month.
“England beat Holland in the final last year so they are naturally going to be top class opposition. Italy always excellent at underage level so of course we expect all of our games to be tough.
“However our players have done brilliantly for us this year and I am confident that they can prove ourselves against the best teams in Europe.”
The 18-man panel is a mix of home-based players and those who have made the switch across the water.
With four goals in qualifying, Trevor Clarke was the team’s top goalscorer, and, alongside Luke Wade-Slater, Jamie Gray and former team-mates Darragh Leahy (Coventry City), Robert McCourt (West Brom), the St Kevin’s Boys man is one of five squad members to come through the ranks at the famous DDSL club.
Then there is Liverpool centre-back Conor Masterson, who came through at Lucan United in the same side as Jamie Aherne before joining the Reds last summer, and Connor Ronan of Wolves.
The Rochdale-born midfielder qualifies for Ireland through his grandparents and celebrated his 17th birthday by signing his first professional contract last month after impressing for Wolves’ academy. Interestingly, Ronan played for England last February before acquiring his Irish passport and switching allegiance a week later.
Dubliner Steven Kinsella, the promising winger Everton won the race to sign from Templeogue United 18 months ago, misses out through injury, however.
Ireland U17s squad:
Caoimhin Kelleher (Ringmahon Rangers FC)
David Craddock (Shelbourne FC)
Luke Wade-Slater (St Kevin’s Boys FC)
Corey O’Keeffe (Birmingham City FC)
Conor Masterson (Liverpool FC)
Shane Hanney (Shamrock Rovers FC)
Darragh Leahy (Coventry City FC)
Jonathan Lunney (Preston North End FC)
Robert McCourt (West Bromwich Albion FC)
Connor Ronan (Wolves FC)
Marcus Agyei-Tabi (Arsenal FC)
Anthony Scully (West Ham United FC)
Conor Levingston (Wolves FC)
Zachary Elbouzedi (West Bromwich Albion FC)
Jamie Aherne (Lucan United FC)
Trevor Clarke (St Kevin’s Boys FC)
Joshua Barrett (Reading FC)
Jamie Gray (St Kevin’s Boys)
Ireland’s fixtures:
- Ireland v Netherlands, Sozopol Stadium, Sozopol (Today, 11am Irish time)
- Ireland v Italy, Beroe, Stara Zagora (Sunday, 2pm Irish time, live on Eurosport 2)
- England v Ireland, Beroe, Stara Zagora (Wednesday, 13 May, 5pm Irish time, live on Eurosport 2)
Originally published at 4.50 on 6 May.
