2023 UEFA European Under 19 Championship

**tetsujin1979** · 15/03/2023, 10:31 AM

All games to be streamed on loi tv too
https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/irel...uro-qualifiers

**Kingdom** · 15/03/2023, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

Here's the squad. Decent picking from ES, particularly in the forwards. Great to see Sean Moore in.

Goalkeepers: Reece Byrne (Bohemians), Owen Mason (Kettering Town, on loan from Mansfield Town)

Defenders: James Abankwah (Udinese), Sam Curtis (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Sean Grehan (Crystal Palace), James Golding (Oxford United), Alex Murphy (Newcastle United), Harry Nevin (Preston North End), John Ryan (Sassulo)

Midfielders: Justin Ferizaj (Shamrock Rovers), Oisin Gallagher (Barwell, on loan from Lincoln City), Ed McJannet (Lecce), James McManus (Bohemians), Harry Vaughan (Hull City), Rocco Vata (Celtic)

Forwards: Tommy Lonergan (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Sean Moore (Cliftonville), Mark O’Mahony (Brighton & Hove Albion), Franco Umeh (Crystal Palace), Kevin Zefi (Inter Milan)

That's a squad worth getting excited about. What's even better is that there are about 10/11 players there that are pretty well known already (Byrne, Abankwah, Curtis, Grehan, Ferizaj, McJannet, McManus, Vata, O'Mahoney, Franco & Zefi)

**SkStu** · 15/03/2023, 12:13 PM

It really is a squad worth salivating over, especially when you look at the levels below and above and the quality that is there too - as well as those who have already graduated to seniors. We know from experience you cant pin your hopes on the potential in our U17 and U19 squads but these are great signs for us over the next 10-15 years.

**Kingdom** · 15/03/2023, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by SkStu

It really is a squad worth salivating over, especially when you look at the levels below and above and the quality that is there too - as well as those who have already graduated to seniors. We know from experience you cant pin your hopes on the potential in our U17 and U19 squads but these are great signs for us over the next 10-15 years.

And better still, it will be very very useful for the 21s in the next couple of seasons as these kids keep developing while aiming for achievable targets such as qualification for these finals. It serves two purposes - a) there's a clear opportunity for upward progression b) the next age-group and this age-group aren't hamstrung by having all the talent plugging holes elsewhere (even allowing for Ev Ferguson not being involved) - there is enough talent of a similar ability and stature there to compensate.

A huge help to their development and future development.

**Razors left peg** · 15/03/2023, 5:33 PM

That U19 squad could genuinely be the best underage squad we've had since we won the Euros under Kerr

**JR89** · 16/03/2023, 9:32 AM

8 of the 20 named are underage again next season and all bar Sam Curtis are midfielders or forwards.

**liamoo11** · 16/03/2023, 6:17 PM

Originally Posted by JR89

8 of the 20 named are underage again next season and all bar Sam Curtis are midfielders or forwards.

Curtis is the youngest in that squad which is hard to believe given how much senior football he has played. If he was born a month later he would have been eligible for our under 17s this season

**liamoo11** · 16/03/2023, 6:18 PM

Originally Posted by SkStu

It really is a squad worth salivating over, especially when you look at the levels below and above and the quality that is there too - as well as those who have already graduated to seniors. We know from experience you cant pin your hopes on the potential in our U17 and U19 squads but these are great signs for us over the next 10-15 years.

Are we a bit light with keepers?

**Eirambler** · 16/03/2023, 8:05 PM

Originally Posted by JR89

8 of the 20 named are underage again next season and all bar Sam Curtis are midfielders or forwards.

10 of them I think.

**JR89** · 16/03/2023, 8:21 PM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

10 of them I think.

Curtis, Ferizaj, Vata, McManus, Zefi, Moore, O'Mahony, and Umeh. Believe the rest are all 2004 unless Google has it wrong but don't think any of them featured on a team when the lads player U17s.

**SkStu** · 16/03/2023, 8:39 PM

Originally Posted by liamoo11

Are we a bit light with keepers?

Yeah, definitely could be. I think the goalkeeping quality and potential we already have at seniors already is what led to the overt giddiness in the post

**Razors left peg** · 16/03/2023, 8:45 PM

If we didnt have another goalkeeper of quality coming through in the next 5 years we would still be fine.

**liamoo11** · 16/03/2023, 9:39 PM

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

If we didnt have another goalkeeper of quality coming through in the next 5 years we would still be fine.

That's true at senior level I was thinking more with this group might it be a bit of a weakness. Its tough to top a group to qualify but on paper this looks like a winnable group.

**samhaydenjr** · 17/03/2023, 1:24 AM

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

If we didnt have another goalkeeper of quality coming through in the next 5 years we would still be fine.

If we didn't have another goalkeeper of quality coming through in the next 15 years we would still be fine!

**Razors left peg** · 17/03/2023, 3:04 AM

Originally Posted by samhaydenjr

If we didn't have another goalkeeper of quality coming through in the next 15 years we would still be fine!

I was being conservative, didn't want anyone thinking I was getting carried away!!!

**yurt** · 17/03/2023, 8:17 PM

McManus has been very impressive against UCD so far today. It's my first time seeing him play and it seems like he's going to be moving to the UK sooner rather than later.

Looking forward to seeing him in an Ireland jersey.

**SkStu** · 17/03/2023, 8:22 PM

Yeah, he’s been class. Strolling around like he owns the place and making it all look very easy. Looks better than some of our more recent exports like Devoy and Tierney to me.