Under-17 Squad

[CSAD]

One thing that must be mentioned in regards to Sam Curtis is that he is quite a young 2005 player , born in December, so even though he is 16 this year due to when he will turn 16 he may not move until January if he is moving.

[tetsujin1979]

Squad named for two friendlies against Mexico this weekend in Cork: https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/u17-...ico-friendlies

Republic of Ireland Under-17 squad
Goalkeepers: Fintan Doherty (Derry City), Conor Walsh (Sligo Rovers)

Defenders: Luke Browne (Shelbourne), Sam Curtis (St. Patrick's Athletic),Cathal Heffernan (Cork City), Ruadhan Kane (Klub Kildare), Daniel Kelly (Sligo Rovers), Luke O'Brien (St. Patrick's Athletic)

Midfielders: Justin Ferizaj (Shamrock Rovers), Gavin Hodgins (Shelbourne), Darius Lipsivc (St. Patrick's Athletic), James McManus (Bohemians), Rocco Vata (Celtic)

Forwards: Trent Kone Doherty (Derry City), Mark O'Mahony (Cork City), Caden McLoughlin (Villareal), Liam Murray (Cork City), Alex Nolan (St Patrick's Athletic), Franco Umeh (Cork City), Kevin Zefi (Inter Milan)

[Olé Olé]

Aside from Zefi, young Vata and McLoughlin are the only two playing outside of Ireland. Both have interesting stories and are at famous clubs. Vata has been referenced in another thread as being Rudi's son and his mother a proud Irishwoman born in Glasgow. She was tweeting her delighted on the call up and fair play to Zefi, Vata and McLoughlin making the trip to Cork too which can't be easy at present for young lads: https://twitter.com/AnnFrancesMurr3/...128804865?s=20

[elatedscum]

Only lads i know from the squad are Sam Curtis, Cathal Heffernan, Luke O'Brien Justin Ferizaj, Rocco Vatta, Caden McLoughlin, Alex Nolan and Kevin Zefi. Plenty of new faces to have a look at

Presumably Cork's Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh must be injured? Really looking forward to going to Lansdowne on Saturday and driving down to Cork on Sunday, first time visiting Turner's Cross...

[tetsujin1979]

The President of Albania, who's a massive Celtic fan, congratulated Vata on the call up!

[liamoo11]

Only lads i know from the squad are Sam Curtis, Cathal Heffernan, Luke O'Brien Justin Ferizaj, Rocco Vatta, Caden McLoughlin, Alex Nolan and Kevin Zefi. Plenty of new faces to have a look at

Presumably Cork's Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh must be injured? Really looking forward to going to Lansdowne on Saturday and driving down to Cork on Sunday, first time visiting Turner's Cross...

Whitmarsh was on the end of a horror challenge in the underv18 game against Hungary a few weeks ago and went off injured. He looked a real talent as a 10 that day

[Exgrad]

This is the team that beat england 3-1 just before lockdown at u15 level right? I think the zefi goal from that game has done the round a fair bit since his move to Inter. Looks like there could be a couple of diamonds in this group.

[SkStu]

2-1 win v Mexico

They came from behind with goals from Cork City pair Franco Umeh and Mark O’Mahony

[tetsujin1979]

Goals here

[elatedscum]

Good game of ball. Two good teams. Bit of a strange game. First 15mins, both sides were very good and it was pretty even with both sides having chances. After that, Mexico were on top and totally dominant until half time, bar one nice counter attack involving Zefi, Vata and McLaughlin. After half-time, ireland were the better side until the last five mins.

Compared to the last U17 side I saw, there were less sure things but more lads with potential. Pretty much every lad who played had something about them, whereas there are generally a few lads who you know are never gonna get a cap beyond U17s or u18s. Given Covid I thought people might not have seen many of the players before:

GK Conor Walsh (Sligo) - The keeper made one excellent save at 2-1. Wasn’t at fault for the goal he conceded. Didn’t have to make many other saves. Only criticism was that with a minute or two left, Mexico got a corner and he came and misjudged and it went over his head. Lucky not to land to a mexican player and easily have cost a goal

RB Sam Curtis (St Pats) - really struggled in the first half and it looked like playing a level up was too much for him but had a much better second half and his improvement was really influential in us turning the game around.

CB Cathal Heffernan (Cork City) - captained the side. Didn’t have his best game, particularly in possession. Thought he was better in the first game against Hungary for the u18s a few weeks ago. Was also sold easily and skinned by Alexei Dominguez (more on him later) in the one time he came up against a pacey skilful player. Nonetheless won more than his share of headers, 50/50 balls and blocks and whenever we were under pressure the centre halves were solid.

CB Luke Browne (Shels) - the less visible of the two centre halves but a good solid game all the same.

LB - Luke O’Brien (Pats) - he carried the ball well when he got the opportunity and didn’t look like a bad footballer but... He was marking Mexico’s best player Alexei Dominguez. O’Brien kept tucking inside and there was always a ball to Dominguez. The kid was lightning quick, skilful and tiny and time and time again, we gave them the space to play a cross field ball to him. I couldn’t understand why he didn’t adapt and drop 2 or 3 yards closer, obviously it creates a small gap between him and the centre half but the kid was too quick and too technically gifted. They must have played him in 10 times during the game. He was the lad who scored the mexican goal and he could have scored 5 on another day. It felt as though O’Brien was following instructions and repetitions in training as to how they wanted the shape to work without realising how much it was hurting us. Very possibly though, if he was facing the other less talented mexican winger, it might have been a glowing review.

CM - Justin Ferizaj (Rovers) - had a cracking game. Dictated the play from deep when we were at our best and kept it moving. Had a habit of drawing countless fouls, just getting to the ball before his opponent, was lucky not to pick up an injury. Also tackled well. There was a touch of Joe Hodge and a touch of Conor Coventry in the performance. Got the assist for the first goal with a lovely cross.

CM - James McManus (Bohs) - struggled at times, few really awful passes straight out of touch. But he had a few real moments of quality and inspiration that made you see why he was there.

AM - Rocco Vatta (Celtic) - another player who you were wondering what the fuss was all about at half time but had a much better second half. Was involved with a counter attack mentioned above. Not sure who got the assist for the second but might have been him. Over the course of the game he did enough good things to make you feel hopeful.

WG - Kevin Zefi (Inter) - started the game on the right wing and switched to the left after 20 mins or so. he’s really not the finished article, much much less than I expected and at times there are terrible mistakes. He still very much feels like a kid playing the game unlike someone like Evan Ferguson. Saying that, there’s a touch of genius that’s undeniable and it’s how I’d imagine it was like to watch Duffer when he was 16 (or Richie Partridge). He had about 7 or 8 moments of stunning brilliance, the best being a moment where he somehow kept an overhit ball over his head in play by jumping and swinging his leg back and back heeling it on the volley straight to a teammate. He got the ball back and took it past 3 mexican lads before firing a really dangerous shot off. Meanwhile, there were 4 or 5 moments of calamity to go along with them, the most notable where he sprinted to get to a ball and with no one around tripped over the ball and himself. while on the floor seemed to berate the ref for not giving him a free.

WG - Frankie Umeh (Cork City) - a tale of two halves, was really anonymous in the first half. A club coach of his was sitting directly behind me and was convinced he would be hooked at half time. In the second half, he showed real pace. Pressed and defended well. Score a good header. Did a lot right in the second half

ST - Caden McLoughlin (Villarreal) - showed real trickery and creativity in flashes. Has plenty to work on but he stood out. He was also up against the other outstanding Mexican player, the captain Diego Ochoa, a Rolls Royce of a centre half. McLoughlin was involved with that counter attack where Zefi somehow squirmed past two or three players and carried the ball. McLoughlin made a run but the defenders stepped up and he was well offside, so Zefi delayed and played Vatta through, making a great run from deep, Vatta took it into the box before sliding it out to McLoughlin, who kinda rushed it, not realising the time he had and snatched at the opportunity with his weaker foot, rather than take a touch. In the second half, he was poleaxed by the keeper, who deserved a red card. It was a long ball which he showed great pace for, the keeper came charging way out but it bounced between him and McLoughlin and over the keepers head. McLoughlin would have ran onto it and had an open goal but the keeper absolutely milled him. Was a clear red but ref gave yellow. He also pressed well and for the first irish goal, he was the player who won the ball back for it by closing down the centre half

Mark O’Mahoney (Cork City) - replaced McLoughlin. Took his goal well. Could have had a second, with his movement, created a gap between the centre halves and made a great run. The pass didn’t come from Alex Nolan but if it had, he would have been 1 v 1 like in his goal. He also showed really good hold up play in the corner late on. Very impressive cameo.

Overall a very successful outing...

[Kingdom]

Appreciate the post Elated.
Saw the highlights, and looked to be a game of two halves.
Interested in your review of the lb vs rw battle. I couldn't believe the simplicity of the Mexican goal. It makes more sense with your report.

[tetsujin1979]

Playing Mexico again today

[SkStu]

Lost 2-0

[tetsujin1979]

Kevin Zefi blazing a trail to Italy for Irish kids to follow in move to Inter Milan: https://www.independent.ie/sport/soc...-41347576.html

Article mentions that Albania have made enquiries about him changing allegiance, but so far he has no intention of it

[JR89]

Cracking player and was surprised he wasn't named in the U17s squad. Played in the qualifying games last October. Has trained with Celtic but looks like Liverpool will sign him.

[tetsujin1979]

Trent Kone-Doherty interviewed about playing for Ireland

[tetsujin1979]

Cathal Heffernan played for AC Milan's primavera team this afternoon, think that's his first appearance at that level
https://www.acmilan.com/en/news/arti...-secure-safety
He posted a photo of his jersey on Instagram, and his name is Andrews on it for some reason?
https://instagram.com/stories/cathal...71890106186732

<EDIT>

I did a search and the transfer announcement also calls him Andrews
https://www.acmilan.com/en/news/arti...rket-movements

Cathal Séan ANDREWS (pro) born in 2005, signed by AC Milan on loan (with an option to buy) from Cork City FC youth sector (Republic of Ireland);

[Eirambler]

Andrews is his mother's maiden name, possibly that's his official surname, I don't know.

[liamoo11]

Cathal Heffernan played for AC Milan's primavera team this afternoon, think that's his first appearance at that level
https://www.acmilan.com/en/news/arti...-secure-safety
He posted a photo of his jersey on Instagram, and his name is Andrews on it for some reason?
https://instagram.com/stories/cathal...71890106186732

<EDIT>

I did a search and the transfer announcement also calls him Andrews
https://www.acmilan.com/en/news/arti...rket-movements

Hopefully that's a hood sign so for him getting a longer contract. It was only until the summer he signed wasn't it?

[Rayzor]

Andrews is his mother's maiden name, possibly that's his official surname, I don't know.

Probably, Rob Hefferman is actually his step father.