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https://www.fai.ie/latest/mu17-squad...17-qualifiers/ squad for this week s qualifiers.
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2025 UEFA European Under-17 Championship
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2025 UEFA European Under-17 Championship Qualification Round 1 Group 8
2025 UEFA European Under-17 Championship Qualification Round 2 Group A6
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While the NI squad is here:Quote:
Originally Posted by liamoo11
https://www.irishfa.com/news/2024/oc...uro-qualifiers
Anyone know any more about gk Finn McDonnell of Bohemians, how he qualifies for us etc? Also, Bohs teammate Chistian Coyle, who's not included this time, but played for us alongside FMcD a couple of months back in two friendlies vs Turkey U-17's.
Meanwhile, George Feeney (Spurs, ex-Glentoran striker) is back in the fold for us after flirting with Wales, he's attracting a bit of attention at WHL apparently. And good to see Christopher Atherton still in there as well: said to be lined up to move to Chelsea, he made his Glenavon debut* at 13 years 329 days(!) and still only turned 16 nine days ago.
Maybe NI will put up a rather better showing in these matches than the recent all-Ireland encounter at WP last week!
* - The IFA have since imposed a higher minimum age limit for playing in adult football btw. You now have to be 16, though you can still play as a 15 y.o. providing you turn 16 the same season.
It looks like finneran played his first game of the season for Newcastle 18s on Saturday following injury so lightly to be used sparingly
He played a Premier League cup game in August, but went off at half timeQuote:
Originally Posted by liamoo11
https://www.newcastleunited.com/en/m...40827?tab=live
I was sitting beside Christian Coyle’s parents at an Ireland u15 game against Latvia about 18 months ago. Mother is from Belfast. Father is from Dublin. He’s an ex-LOI player (Robbie Coyle). Very nice people. I think they have a younger son who is also a good footballer.Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
Christian was playing at right back for us, did pretty well but not as well as Oladiti. He was due to go up and train with NI after the match was over. Not sure what his international allegiance is, but I’d say he’d be at the fringes of our squad - there are 5 very good defenders (1 of whom is injured) and then Christian is in the next tier who would be fighting for the remaining 2 or 3 slots in the squad
This is such an excellent squad. I’m assuming Sam Steward is injured, cause he was captaining the side recently and a mainstay at centre half, so can’t see a world where he’s left out. Big loss.Quote:
Originally Posted by liamoo11
Often disappointed with either O’Brien or Mohan leaving great players out but I think it’s a really good selection. As squads go, it’s looks really good - worst case scenario, it’s a one in every three years special (ie better than 2006 and 07) and best case scenario it’s really really special, a once in a decade group.
You’ve got 2 good keepers, Topcu is incredible but tiny, unless he’s grown over the last few months.
4 good defenders - shame about Steward - but as long as they have no injuries, they should cope. Oladiti is a really cultured and composed right back, Solanke is great either in the centre or at left back, played for us in the u17s championships as a 14 year old (the youngest ever player at that tournament). McDonagh is a really progressive centre half. Steward missing, is a talker, an organiser and a leader. Then Finn Sherlock is a really good modern left back.
6 midfielders - all good enough to be above average starters to star players for the 17s - it’s a real selection dilemma. O’Donnell and Finneran have both had an impact as senior footballers, Ramon Martos is a lovely midfielder, not the finished article at all but he’s totally different to the type of midfielder we produce, there’s a touch of Thiago Alcantara about him, Ogbonna is a real game changer, an exciting player, either as an attacking midfielder or winger, goes past players with ease, scores goals, can find a pass. Then Souto Keeley and McMahon Browne are also really good accomplished midfielders.
Then in the attacking areas you’ve got guys like Jaden Umeh who is as promising as his brother Franco, Jaden is a really explosive and tricky winger. Brody Lee glides across the pitch, so talented, just a lovely footballer. Michael Noonan is the next in line when it comes to those really high ceiling No.9s (Ferguson in 2004, O’Mahony in 2005, Melia in 2007, Noonan in 2008). Then Billy O’Neill is a little goal machine and Billy Hayes is a good winger too. Tollett is considered to be a good young player as well, although I haven’t really seen enough of him personally.
I don’t want to jinx them but it’s probably the most excited I’ve been about an u17 team since the 2018 side that had Jason Knight, Nathan Collins, Adam Idah, Luca Connell, an underage Troy Parrott…
No stream for today's opening game V Lithuania
Live updates on uefa.com here https://www.uefa.com/under17/match/2...-vs-lithuania/
Currently one up with a goal from Brody Lee after 32 minutes
Threw away a 2 goal lead with 10 mins left. Ended 2-2. Hard to really comment without a stream but you’d imagine it is a game we should win comfortably
Northern Ireland beat Scotland 3-1 in the other group game today
https://www.uefa.com/under17/match/2...d-vs-scotland/
Intersting to see Cead McGrath in the NI squad. Saw him play for us at u15 and u16 levelQuote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
The UEFA match stats for the game look pretty even but reading the FAI match report seems we were on the ropes at the end and fortunate to get the draw.Quote:
Originally Posted by elatedscum
The second games are on today. Scots beat Lithuania so we will need to beat the North tonight most likely
not really. if we beat the Scots, we're ahead of them. and for lithuania to catch us, they'd need to beat Northern Ireland.Quote:
Originally Posted by liamoo11
Saying that, if we win today, then we'd only need a draw against Scotland. But the game tonight isn't do or die really...
Off topic posts moved
Live updates for this evening's game v Northern Ireland: https://www.uefa.com/under17/match/2...thern-ireland/
North leading 1-0, OG from McDonagh
2-0... plenty of time left but depressing stuff. in this situation, without seeing the game, i'd want Ogbonna on...Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
and 3...
3-1 Noonan
Last game s this afternoon. Need to beat Scotland and hope north don't lose to
Lithuania or that we beat Scotland by 2 more goals than Lithuania beat the North by. Hopefully they can manage it
Live text commentary of the final game v Scotland here: https://www.uefa.com/under17/match/2...ic-of-ireland/
Currently 0-0
And the other game between Northern Ireland and Lithuania: https://www.uefa.com/under17/match/2...thern-ireland/
Also scoreless
Into next round on yellow cards?