Aaron Connolly F Hull b.2000

**SkStu** · 04/09/2023, 8:14 PM

Wow. Yes you’re absolutely right! LOL. He didn’t even play. In which case, any blame for that game is way OTT

**Eirambler** · 05/09/2023, 9:28 AM

Originally Posted by JR89

Looking much better this season. FAI definitely want to make sure he's got his citizenship sorted before he turns 21. Because he's third generation and isn't automatically an Irish citizen by birth I think he needs to have his citizenship sorted before his 21st birthday otherwise he might not qualify for us.

Actually he would have needed to have had his Irish citizenship before his first competitive underage game for England, which was in March 2022. If he didn't have it at that point he'll become ineligible for us next year when he turns 21.

**tetsujin1979** · 05/09/2023, 9:40 AM

Little surprised he didn't play a competitive game for their U17s

**JR89** · 05/09/2023, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

Actually he would have needed to have had his Irish citizenship before his first competitive underage game for England, which was in March 2022. If he didn't have it at that point he'll become ineligible for us next year when he turns 21.

Just reading an Athletic article about Balogun and yup they mention "If they did not already hold that nationality, they are allowed to switch — but only if they were under the age of 21 when they featured for the country they want to switch from." when talking about the rules regarding U21s players.

So yeah if he didn't have his Irish nationality at the time of his first cap then can't switch after he turns 21. Always read the rules as needing to have your citizenship sorted before 21 and if not you become ineligible if play after 21. So Delap would have been ok if he sorted his citizenship out before next February and still played U21s for England.

So if Ryan Johansson wasn't called up by Crawford before his 21st birthday he would have become ineligible.

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Little surprised he didn't play a competitive game for their U17s

Think he had issues with injuries when younger and that's why he missed out on playing with their U17s competitively.

**tetsujin1979** · 05/09/2023, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by JR89

Think he had issues with injuries when younger and that's why he missed out on playing with their U17s competitively.

Looked up his date of birth on wikipedia(February 2023) so he was 17 in 2000. England's u17s got a bye into the qualification round for the 2020 U17 Championships, but then all underage competitions were cancelled because of COVID.

**Fixer82** · 05/09/2023, 10:44 AM

We need this kid to be top of his game for these matches

**Eirambler** · 05/09/2023, 2:34 PM

Originally Posted by JR89

Just reading an Athletic article about Balogun and yup they mention "If they did not already hold that nationality, they are allowed to switch — but only if they were under the age of 21 when they featured for the country they want to switch from." when talking about the rules regarding U21s players.

So yeah if he didn't have his Irish nationality at the time of his first cap then can't switch after he turns 21. Always read the rules as needing to have your citizenship sorted before 21 and if not you become ineligible if play after 21. So Delap would have been ok if he sorted his citizenship out before next February and still played U21s for England.

So if Ryan Johansson wasn't called up by Crawford before his 21st birthday he would have become ineligible.

Think he had issues with injuries when younger and that's why he missed out on playing with their U17s competitively.

The Ryan Johansson but still isn't quite right I don't think. He would have been fine if we had called him up after his 21st birthday, as long as his last appearance for Luxembourg was before his 21st. If he had played for Luxembourg after his 21st birthday he'd then have been ineligible for Ireland.

Johansson's situation was one that fell in our favour as a result of the revised rules, having been ruled ineligible previously. It's a shame he never kicked on at all.

**mark12345** · 05/09/2023, 4:56 PM

Originally Posted by Fixer82

Rory deserved way more caps. Think he played in the play off against Iran.

Wasn’t it Keith O’Neill who was to blame for Macedonia late goal?

Keith ONeill was quite poor in that game and, if memory serves, came on as a sub and was substituted about 20 minutes later?. But the blame for the goal lay with the Irish defence, who were stood like statues for a last minute corner to allow the equalizer.

**pineapple stu** · 05/09/2023, 5:04 PM

Came on with 25 to go but wasn't subbed off.

But yeah, when it comes to defending a last-minute corner, it's first head on the ball clears it and worry about everything else after the whistle.

**Fixer82** · 06/09/2023, 8:53 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Came on with 25 to go but wasn't subbed off.

But yeah, when it comes to defending a last-minute corner, its first head on the ball clears it and worry about everything else after the whistle.

Definitely wasn’t Delap’s fault as he wasn’t even in the squad. O’Neill didn’t track his man and the rest is history.

Good player O’Neill but by many accounts a headwrecker and not very popular in the Irish dressing room

**SkStu** · 15/09/2023, 6:40 PM

Gets another start for Hull tonight. Nice to see.

**JR89** · 15/09/2023, 9:04 PM

Originally Posted by SkStu

Gets another start for Hull tonight. Nice to see.

And scores a late equaliser while also playing the full 90 mins.

**CraftyToePoke** · 15/09/2023, 9:25 PM

It was a fantastic headed goal.

**SkStu** · 15/09/2023, 9:32 PM

I didnt get to watch any games tonight but was following the BBC updates and he missed a sitter in the first half apparently. Still, that goal will do him the world of good. Really happy to see his comeback.

**JR89** · 15/09/2023, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by SkStu

I didnt get to watch any games tonight but was following the BBC updates and he missed a sitter in the first half apparently. Still, that goal will do him the world of good. Really happy to see his comeback.

Does miss some easy chances but has 4 goals in 6 games. Yet some fans would have you believe he was one season away from togging out in the LOI.

**JR89** · 15/09/2023, 10:36 PM

**SkStu** · 16/09/2023, 1:07 AM

Longer highlights here - Connolly features in a few snips, 2 min (chance); 5 min (sitter) and his goal comes towards the end. Lovely header, very intelligent uses the pace of the ball well and executes to perfection.

https://youtu.be/xI1pnNGiDIU?si=lCKslkjoMmgttTIz