Under-21 Squad

[Charlie Darwin]

Thought it would be useful to set up a dedicated U21 thread rather than doing it on a squad-by-squad basis, same as for the U19s.

The U21s are effectively out of contention in the Euro qualifiers with one game to go, so it looks like King is using the friendly with Qatar on May 24th to experiment with a few younger players.

Thanks to tets for pointing out that U19s Jack Byrne and Ian Lawlor of Manchester City have been called up:

Cork City's Brian Lenihan has also made the step up from the U19s:

Manager Noel King has called Lenihan into his squad for the friendly fixture against the Qatar Olympic squad, which will take place in Aachen in Germany on Saturday, May 24th.

http://www.corkcityfc.ie/home/2014/0...under-21-call/

[Closed Account]

Shane Griffin (Reading) claims to be called up also

[Charlie Darwin]

Have they been awarded pictures of shamrocks instead of caps?

[tetsujin1979]

Kieran Sadlier of West Ham in the squad too: https://twitter.com/KieranSadlier/st...12929297391617

An honour to be called up for the Republic Of Ireland Under 21s next week

[Stuttgart88]

What is it with all these guys actually being honoured to be picked? Honestly, you really have to question the attitudes of some of these needy sods.

[gastric]

What is it with all these guys actually being honoured to be picked? Honestly, you really have to question the attitudes of some of these needy sods.

O'Neill is lining up S Ireland as a mentor to help these lads with their bad attitude.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

What is it with all these guys actually being honoured to be picked? Honestly, you really have to question the attitudes of some of these needy sods.

I don't think Mark Hughes being Stoke's manager is helping. You would think his club manager would be pushing him to play for his country but Sparky seems to be encouraging Stephen's blase attitude.

Basically, Stephen said he was going to make a decision at the end of the season - he hasn't - and now it's we'll see in September or October.

Surely the lad has the self-awareness to realise that he is taking the **** with this. Hughes is too.

[Stuttgart88]

Hughes backs Stephen Ireland's return but prefers he doesn't join the squad now.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/s...rn-268247.html

Republic of Ireland midfielder Stephen Ireland was last night backed by his manager at Stoke City, Mark Hughes, to bring an end to his international exile.

Corkman Ireland has not played for his country since Grannygate back in 2007. Martin O’Neill opted not to include Ireland in his plans when, last week, he named his squad for the summer friendlies.

But he plans talks with Ireland this week and he could well be called-up if O’Neill gets the answers he wants.

Hughes, speaking after Ireland had impressed in Stoke’s 2-1 win at West Bromwich Albion, said: “I think this year was all about making sure he was settled.

“He has only just signed a new contract and I think that was his focus and rightly so. He likes stability and wants to know where he will be next year.

“But I am sure that in the future it (playing for Ireland again) is what he wants to do, having spoken to him.

“Probably this summer is a little bit early but I am sure he will look to help Ireland when he can.”



Last week O'Neill was saying he'd sit down with Ireland at season-end because he wanted to speak to him individually and get assurances that he would be committed and enthusiastic on a no-strings-attached basis.

Has anything changed other than a comment by Hughes? Clearly it's best that SI gets involved early, if at all.

[Closed Account]

I think he's overage anyway lads.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I think he's overage anyway lads.

He still has the mental age of a teenager so he should be allowed to play for the U-21's.

[Closed Account]

Jack Connor of Dagenham & Redbridge has been called up:
http://www.daggers.co.uk/news/articl...p-1550086.aspx

Have we a full squad list yet considering the game is in 4 days?

Who we think is in it:
Ian Lawlor
Brian Lenihan
Jack Byrne
Shane Griffin
Kieran Sadlier
Kevin Feely
Jack Connors

[Closed Account]

Full Squad
http://www.fai.ie/international/unde...-friendly.html

Republic of Ireland squad:
Ian Lawlor (Manchester City)
Justin Merz (Karlsruher SC)
Luke Gallagher (Burnley)
Shane Griffin (Reading)
Pierce Sweeney (Reading)
Kevin Feely (Charlton Athletic)
Mason Watkins-Clark (Stoke City)
Bradley Lewis (Aston Villa)
Jack Connors (Dagenham & Redbridge)
Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers)
Kenneth McEvoy (Tottenham Hotspur)
Michael Drennan (Aston Villa)
Will Hayhurst (Preston North End)
Bradley Garmston (West Bromiwich Albion)
Conor Wilkinson (Bolton Wanderers)
Kieran Sadlier (West Ham Utd)
Jack Byrne (Manchester City)
Brian Lenihan (Cork City)

[tetsujin1979]

so Jack Grealish not in the senior squad, the U19s and now the U21 panel

[Charlie Darwin]

He's clearly had a falling out with Paul Doolin.

edit: apparently he's gone to Hong Kong with Villa: http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetai...845017,00.html

Didn't he do the same thing last season?

[Olé Olé]

Full Squad
http://www.fai.ie/international/unde...-friendly.html

Republic of Ireland squad:
Ian Lawlor (Manchester City)
Justin Merz (Karlsruher SC)
Luke Gallagher (Burnley)
Shane Griffin (Reading)
Pierce Sweeney (Reading)
Kevin Feely (Charlton Athletic)
Mason Watkins-Clark (Stoke City)
Bradley Lewis (Aston Villa)
Jack Connors (Dagenham & Redbridge)
Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers)
Kenneth McEvoy (Tottenham Hotspur)
Michael Drennan (Aston Villa)
Will Hayhurst (Preston North End)
Bradley Garmston (West Bromiwich Albion)
Conor Wilkinson (Bolton Wanderers)
Kieran Sadlier (West Ham Utd)
Jack Byrne (Manchester City)
Brian Lenihan (Cork City)

Two new names in there. Did a bit of research.

Connors is a first-team player at League Two Dagenham & Redbridge:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Connors
http://www.barkinganddagenhampost.co..._21s_1_3607309
Young player of the year at his club and qualifies through his father, this article states.

Unable to find out much about Merz. There seems to be a lot of Irish-qualified keepers popping up around the continent- McDermott, Bossin, Merz and Burdon.

An article popped up on theScore.ie that Feely was considering returning home after being released by Charlton- http://www.thescore.ie/kevin-feely-a...64127-May2014/

[Charlie Darwin]

We seem to have started a policy of sending out our best and brightest goalkeeping prospects to breed on the continent in the early 90s. Where did Packie Bonner go after he retired?

[liamoo11]

Strange that the 19s are not using Byrne ,Wilkinson or grealish for the qualifiers must be some team if those three can't make squad. Really liking forward to the 19s games hopefully we can qualify. We'll done to brits winnin the 17s euros

[Eminence Grise]

We seem to have started a policy of sending out our best and brightest goalkeeping prospects to breed on the continent in the early 90s. Where did Packie Bonner go after he retired?

Now if we can put Duff and Robbie out to stud as well...

[Paddy Garcia]

Snatched a draw with a 92nd minute equaliser against Qatar! Watkins-Clark scored.

[Closed Account]

Squad for game V Germany on Friday
http://www.fai.ie/international/unde...h-germany.html
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND U21:
Ian Lawlor (Manchester City)
Justin Merz (Karlsruher SC)
Shane Griffin (Reading)
Sean Long (Reading)
Pierce Sweeney (Reading)
Thomas Hoban (Watford)
Jack Connors (Dagenham & Redbridge)
Sean Kavanagh (Fulham)
Mason Watkins-Clark (Stoke City)
Bradley Lewis (Aston Villa)
Kieran Sadlier (West Ham Utd)
Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers)
Jack Grealish (Aston Villa)
Jack Byrne (Manchester City)
Bradley Garmston (West Bromwich Albion)
Kenneth McEvoy (Tottenham – on-loan to Peterborough Utd)
Sam Byrne (Everton)
Conor Wilkinson (Bolton Wanderers)