2019 UEFA Under-21 Championships

[Closed Account]

The nine qualifying groups for the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Italy and San Marino were decided by Thursday's draw in Nyon. A record 54 teams will be involved, with the first matches taking place in late March – nearly three months before the 2017 finals in Poland (http://www.uefa.com/under21/season=2017/finals/index.html).

2019 Under-21 qualifying group stage draw
Group 1: Czech Republic*, Croatia, Greece, Moldova, Belarus, San Marino
Group 2: Spain*, Slovakia*, Iceland, Albania, Estonia, Northern Ireland
Group 3: Denmark*, Poland*, Finland, Georgia, Lithuania, Faroe Islands
Group 4: England*, Netherlands, Ukraine, Scotland, Latvia, Andorra

Group 5: Germany*, Israel, Norway, Republic of Ireland, Azerbaijan, Kosovo

Group 6: Sweden*, Belgium, Turkey, Hungary, Cyprus, Malta
Group 7: Serbia*, Austria, Russia, FYR Macedonia*, Armenia, Gibraltar
Group 8: Portugal*, Switzerland, Romania, Wales, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Liechtenstein
Group 9: France, Slovenia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg

• The nine group winners will qualify automatically for the finals.
• The four runners-up with the best records against the teams first, third, fourth and fifth in their group will go into the play-offs and be drawn into two ties to decide the last pair of qualifiers.

Only 11 qualify from 9 groups so we have to come 2nd in our group, hope it's we are top 4 of 9 2nd place teams and then playoff against another top 2nd place team. Good chance of finishing 2nd mind.

[tetsujin1979]

Finn Harps' Ethan Boyle called into U21 squad for friendly against the Amateur Squad: http://www.finnharps.com/fhfc/?p=4210

[IsMiseSean]

Galway United's Conor Melody called up. Gary Boylan & Regan Donelon from Sligo also in the squad.

Anyone got the full squad?

[nigel-harps1954]

Ben Doherty, Josh Daniels and Ronan Curtis of Derry in the squad too.

Haven't seen a full panel anywhere yet.

[Closed Account]

http://leagueofireland.ie/index.php/2017/02/02/fantastic-league-of-ireland-representation-in-noel-kings-u21-home-based-squad/

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND U21 HOME-BASED SQUAD:
Kevin Horgan (Shamrock Rovers)
Matthew Connor (Waterford FC)
Colm Deasy (Drogheda United)
Richie Purdy (Drogheda United)
Gary Boylan (Sligo Rovers)
Regan Donelan (Sligo Rovers)
Ryan Robinson (St Mochta’s)
Rory Feely (St Patrick’s Athletic)
Paudie O’Connor (Limerick FC)
Ethan Boyle (Finn Harps)
Georgie Poynton (Bohemians)
Jamie McGrath (Dundalk)
Darragh Noone (Bray Wanderers)
Josh Daniels (Derry City)
Ronan Curtis (Derry City)
Ben Doherty (Derry City)
Conor Melody (Galway United)
FIXTURE
Saturday, February 11
Training Match
Republic of Ireland U21 Home-Based squad v Republic of Ireland Amateur International squad, AUL Complex (2.00pm)

[Charlie Darwin]

Of that squad, I think only Poynton and Melody, and maybe Curtis given our lack of strikers, would be likely to make a squad with English players. Noone and Feely could as well, but I don't think either is likely to play much with their club. Which is a shame because I think guys playing senior football are better equipped to play u21 ball than academy lads.

[nigel-harps1954]

Is there a reason Jamie McGrath and Sean Maguire were left out?

[tetsujin1979]

Is there a reason Jamie McGrath and Sean Maguire were left out?
Surely Maguire's overage?

<EDIT>

can't find the 2019 regulations on UEFA's site. but the 2017 regulations are here - http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/Regulations/uefaorg/Regulations/02/20/49/90/2204990_DOWNLOAD.pdf - and was open to players born on or after 1 January 1994, Maguire was born in May 1994, so more than likely overage for the 2019 tournament

[ArFella]

Is there a reason Jamie McGrath and Sean Maguire were left out?

Maguire is 22 and Jamie McGrath is in the squad.

[ArFella]

Is there a reason Jamie McGrath and Sean Maguire were left out?

Maguire is 22 and Jamie McGrath is in the squad.

[Charlie Darwin]

Is there a reason Jamie McGrath and Sean Maguire were left out?
McGrath has been called up now apparently. Maguire is 23.

[DannyInvincible]

Could a mod maybe merge this with the already-existing thread for under-21 squads?: http://foot.ie/threads/189904-Under-21-Squad-Thread/

I'd have posted this in that thread except for the fact it appears to be locked for some reason. Not sure why...

Anyway, here's Noel King's squad for Ireland's upcoming under-21 European Championships group 5 qualifier against Kosovo in Tallaght on Saturday the 25th of March (1PM kick-off): http://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/king-announces-under-21-squad-for-kosovo-qualifier


Republic of Ireland Under 21 Head Coach Noel King has announced his squad for the forthcoming UEFA U21 Championships Qualifying Round Group 5 fixture with Kosovo.

The Irish team will host the Kosovans at Tallaght Stadium on Saturday, 25 March, kick-off 13:00, in their opening game of the 2019 UEFA U21 Championships qualifiers.

Italy and San Marino will co-host the UEFA U21 Championships Finals tournament. Ireland are grouped with Germany, Israel, Norway, Azerbaijan and Kosovo, who are entering the UEFA U21 qualifiers for the first time.

The nine group winners advance to the finals with the four best runners-up entering a play-off to decide the final two spots in the tournament alongside the Italians.

Republic of Ireland Under 21 Squad

Goalkeepers: Kieran O’Hara (Manchester United), Liam Bossin (Anderlecht)

Defenders: Danny Kane (Huddersfield Town), Ryan Sweeney (Stoke City – on loan at Bristol Rovers), Shaun Donnellan (West Bromwich Albion), Corey Whelan (Liverpool), Connor O’Grady (Sheffield Wednesday)

Midfielders: Liam Kinsella (Walsall), Rory Hale (Aston Villa), Josh Cullen (West Ham United – on loan at Bradford), Harry Charsley (Everton), Ryan Manning (Queens Park Rangers), Ethan Boyle (Finn Harps), Connor Dimaio (Chesterfield), Olamide Shodipo (Queens Park Rangers - on loan to Port Vale)

Forwards: Ronan Curtis (Derry City), Reece Grego Cox (Queens Park Rangers), Jake Mulraney (Inverness CT), Joe Quigley (Bournemouth - on loan at Gillingham)

[tetsujin1979]

Renaming for this Championship qualification series.
probably locked the last thread for the same reason as the other underage threads - one dedicated thread per qualification series and I'll move it to the archived match threads forum after the qualifiers end

Should be able to make that game on Saturday week

[nigel-harps1954]

Nice to see some Harps representation there through Boyle. I don't recall the last time we had a player called up to a full under-21 squad.

[Kingdom]

I can't understand why that match cannot be played in the evening, when there is no kids football on in Dublin.

[nigel-harps1954]

I can't understand why that match cannot be played in the evening, when there is no kids football on in Dublin.

Full round of League of Ireland fixtures that evening.

[liamoo11]

God depressingly shallow squad. Don't think o Grady has been involved before welcome and also nice to see Hale get a call up like his brother

[Charlie Darwin]

Nice to see some Harps representation there through Boyle. I don't recall the last time we had a player called up to a full under-21 squad.
Ciaran Gallagher was in one, wasn't he?

[OwlsFan]

God depressingly shallow squad. Don't think o Grady has been involved before welcome and also nice to see Hale get a call up like his brother

O'Grady only relatively recently signed professional forms for Wednesday. Conceivably could be on the bench this Friday due to dearth of centre halves at the club right now.

[nigel-harps1954]

Ciaran Gallagher was in one, wasn't he?

Nope. Ciaran has under-17 and under-19 caps but never under-21.

[DannyInvincible]

Belfast's Rory Hale has tweeted his delight at receiving clearance to switch to the FAI and at being selected for the under-21s: https://twitter.com/Roryh96/status/841990612429733889


After a long frustrating 18 months I'm finally cleared and im over the moon to receive my first call up for my country.

[geysir]

What was his long frustrating 18 months about?

[liamoo11]

What was his long frustrating 18 months about?
Couldn't get the ride!

[DannyInvincible]

What was his long frustrating 18 months about?

The FIFA clearance probably took a few months, although I'd be surprised if it took 18 months. I'm not aware of an injury or anything. Any insight here?: http://www.irishnews.com/sport/footballsoccer/2016/08/04/news/brothers-rory-and-ronan-hale-on-cusp-of-brummie-breakthrough-636336/


Rory is entering his fourth season at recently relegated Aston Villa, Ronan is in his second year with cross-town rivals Birmingham City.

Rory started out with local club St Patrick’s before working his way through Cliftonville’s ranks from U11.

After a series of cross-channel trials, Villa signed him – and the former Milk Cup golden boot winner hasn’t looked back.

To put how far Rory Hale has travelled into context, the striker-turned-midfielder’s final game of last season for Villa saw him come up against Arsenal’s midfield metronome Santi Cazorla at the Emirates Stadium in the U21 play-off final.

“Cazorla was my toughest opponent by a mile,” says Rory, who has signed a one-year extension at Villa Park.

“They beat us 3-1. Arsenal had about six first teamers. Cazorla was my opponent the whole game. He’s so two-footed I didn’t know what foot he was going to hit the ball with. But I held my own at times. He was so smart on the ball, he rarely ran anywhere.

“He was in the right place at the right time... The Emirates was the best stadium I’ve played in and the pitch was like a snooker table.”

Rory made most progress under Tim Sherwood during his short spell as Aston Villa manager – and the north Belfast man is hoping new boss Roberto Di Matteo will cast his eye towards the cream of the club’s U21s ahead of the new season.

On Sherwood’s impact, Rory said: “As soon as Sherwood came in he had me up with the first team, and I was still a second year scholarship and the youngest player.

“Sherwood was brilliant with me and it was a shame he got the sack because he was the one that would have brought me through.

“Mentally, he would always give you confidence. If you lost the ball he would encourage you to get back on the ball, whereas another manager might just yell at you.

“His training sessions were excellent, he was just a lively person.”

The fact that Villa suffered relegation from the Premier League last season may see more youth team players given the chance as the Birmingham club starts to rebuild.

“It can go two ways for me,” explained Rory.

“If they want to go straight back up then I can’t see them playing many youngsters every week. [But] Di Matteo has been appointed and he likes to play young players. If you get one shot at it and you play well, he might stick with you.”

As the new season beckons, Rory’s target is to break into the first team reckoning at Villa or secure a loan move to broaden his experience.

[Closed Account]

Under-21 - Republic of Ireland-Kosovo - Line-ups - UEFA.com http://www.uefa.com/under21/season=2019/matches/round=2000803/match=2022391/lineups/index.html #IRLKOS
http://i.imgur.com/NOcAMgI.jpg

[Closed Account]

1-0 up. Shodipo with our only shot on target it looks like. Not too promising.

[tetsujin1979]

Ball was bundled over the line, Shodipo played well other than that. Him, Cullen and Whelan (in the first half) were decent. O'Hara doesn't seem to like claiming the ball, much happier to punch or parry it away. Charsley excited and infuriated in equal measure, he either did something excellent in possession or gave it away cheaply. Manning was taken off before he was sent off, the ref liked his cards. Thought Grego-Cox did better the him.

[kksaints]

Unimpressive performance today. Kosovo hit the post twice in the second half. Their no 7 (Cant remember his name) looked very useful. Shodipo played well but he was really the only Irish player to stand out positively. Thought Manning was awful sat far too deep and misplaced a ton of passes. Unimpressed by the goalie dropped a simple free and made some saves look much tougher than they should have been.

[DannyInvincible]

Highlights from the 1-0 win over Kosovo:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WAbgmOJJJg

[DeLorean]

Lived a bit dangerously alright!

Didn't realise Kosovo has nearly two million people, thought it was a nice bit smaller than that. Those former Yugoslav nations tend to be good technically so maybe not a bad result.

[tetsujin1979]

Few reports of players being called into a training camp for the U21s in recent days.
Bobby Moseley posted this on twitter: https://twitter.com/BobbyMoseley3/status/862621152585412608

Delighted to be called up to the 21s for a training camp this weekend. Nice way to finish off the season!

There was a post on Birmingham City's site about the same camp, but it appears to have been taken down. The google cache of it is still available: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:hKvoVTBk7H0J:www.bcfc.com/news/article/2016-17/birmingham-city-3702347.aspx+&cd=9&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ie&client=firefox-b

Ronan Hale, Corey O’Keeffe and Daniel Cleary have been asked to attend a forthcoming Republic of Ireland Under-21 International Training Camp.

The Training Camp will take place in Dublin from the 13 to 15 of May. Former Liverpool defender Cleary has already represented the Republic of Ireland Under-21s side 12 times, but Hale and O'Keeffe have so far only been capped up to Under-19s level.

Meanwhile, fellow Blues midfielder Noe Baba has been put on standby for the same camp.

[Olé Olé]

Few reports of players being called into a training camp for the U21s in recent days.
Bobby Moseley posted this on twitter: https://twitter.com/BobbyMoseley3/status/862621152585412608


There was a post on Birmingham City's site about the same camp, but it appears to have been taken down. The google cache of it is still available: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:hKvoVTBk7H0J:www.bcfc.com/news/article/2016-17/birmingham-city-3702347.aspx+&cd=9&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ie&client=firefox-b

Interesting fast tracking of Hale but it will do nobody any harm.

Cleary made no first team impression there did he yet? Baba sign up again?

[liamoo11]

Interesting fast tracking of Hale but it will do nobody any harm.

Cleary made no first team impression there did he yet? Baba sign up again?

think baba was released

[tetsujin1979]

yeah, he was released: https://twitter.com/noebaba/status/860938709855866880

Two season, massive thank you to everyone at @BCFC (https://twitter.com/BCFC) and to all the lads it's been a pleasure

[Closed Account]

What's all this about then.

https://twitter.com/ronanhale9/status/864176211139973121

Great experience makin my Republic of Ireland u21 debut. Disappointing result losing 2-1 but buzzin to bang in my first goal for the 21shttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/72x72/1f603.pnghttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/72x72/1f1ee-1f1ea.png
Who'd they play?

[Closed Account]

http://www.bcfc.com/news/article/2016-17/international-round-up-gleeson-hale-and-redmond-3717213.aspx



Meanwhile, Ronan Hale scored on his Republic of Ireland Under-21 debut in a 2-1 friendly defeat to Drogheda United’s senior side.
Read more at http://www.bcfc.com/news/article/2016-17/international-round-up-gleeson-hale-and-redmond-3717213.aspx#9gY8rFB54qzcQ4Bt.99

[Closed Account]

I go on holidays and everyone forgets about our wee U-21s. Shame on all of you.
http://www.uefa.com/under21/season=2019/matches/round=2000803/match=2022417/index.html
Currently 2-1 up away to giants Azerbaijan (jinx)
Ryan Manning with 2 (call him up etc)

I wouldn't think they've lined up like below but it's the same on Uefa. Probably Donnellan LB, Kane RB, Whelan CB, Cullen-Charsley-Rice 3 CM, and a front 3 of Curtis, Grego Cox and Manning floating maybe.
https://i.imgur.com/rfSXZh7.png

[Closed Account]

Goal 3-1, from 4th shot on target....

Grego-Cox this time.

Azerbaijani down to 10 as Jafarov is off.

[IsMiseSean]

Good win for them yesterday. Those are the games the U21s would usually lose or draw.
Two home games coming up next month against Norway & Israel. Shame both games are in Tallaght though, be good to see a few of these games spread throughout LOI grounds.

[swinfordfc]

What's the table look like at present? ... do you have to finish top or is there play offs for second?

[tetsujin1979]

What's the table look like at present? ... do you have to finish top or is there play offs for second?
Ireland top on 6 points: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_UEFA_European_Under-21_Championship_qualification_Group_5
The four best second placed sides qualify as well: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_UEFA_European_Under-21_Championship_qualification#Ranking_of_second-placed_teams

[tetsujin1979]

Squad announced for the upcoming qualifiers against Norway and Israel: http://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/ireland-u21-king-selects-24-man-squad-for-norway-and-israel


Goalkeepers: Kieran O'Hara (Manchester United), Liam Bossin (Nottingham Forest).

Defenders: Danny Kane (Huddersfield), Ryan Sweeney (Stoke City, on loan at Bristol Rovers), Shaun Donnellan (West Bromwich Albion, on loan at Walsall), Declan Rice (West Ham United), Corey Whelan (Liverpool), Ryan Delaney (Burton Albion, on loan at Cork City), Trevor Clarke (Shamrock Rovers)


Midfielders: Josh Cullen (West Ham, on loan at Bolton Wanderers), Harry Charsley (Everton), Conor Shaughnessy (Leeds United), Liam Kinsella (Walsall), Jake Mulraney (Inverness Caledonian Thistle), Connor Ronan (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Olamide Shodipo (QPR), Connor Dimaio (Chesterfield), Rory Hale (Galway United), Jake Doyle Hayes (Aston Villa), Dessie Hutchinson (Brighton and Hove Albion).


Attackers: Reece Grego Cox (QPR), Ryan Manning (QPR), Ronan Curtis (Derry City), Joe Quigley (Bournemouth, on loan at Newport County).

[IsMiseSean]

Bit surprised Jack Byrne didn't get a call up since he's playing regularly again.

[liamoo11]

nice to see shopido in he must be back from that injury which seemed to have him out for 5or6 months

[Olé Olé]

Nice to see the recent exploits of Hutchinson, Doyle-Hayes and Shaughnessy at club level getting recognised.

It's a very strange squad in that their careers really could go either way. The above trio to stake claims to be more part of the first team picture at their clubs? How will Delaney and Clarke transition to England? Ronan to fulfill his clear potential? Manning to become an important part of the QPR team again?

[liamoo11]

How good is Ronan Curtis ?is he better than o Connor at rovers?

[Charlie Darwin]

Yes, a lot better.

[liamoo11]

Yes, a lot better.

Thanks Charles. Could you expand do you think Curtis has a chance at a higher level? The few times I've seen o Connor I've thought he showed potential nice touch seemed to be a finisher but looks overweight

[Charlie Darwin]

Curtis will move onto a European league in the winter I'd imagine. Ostersunds agreed a fee with Derry during the summer but he turned them down. O'Connor's not overweight, he just spends too much time in the gym and he's naturally big like Jon Walters.

[Olé Olé]

What type of player is Curtis? Is he a striker or just a forward? I don't think he's been too prolific with goals, hence why I'm wondering if he's not a number 9.