Republic of Ireland Under 21 Head Coach Noel King was at the RSC last Friday to announce the squad for the forthcoming UEFA U21 Championships Group 2 fixture against Lithuania on Friday, November 13, in Vilnius and a friendly against Norway in the RSC, Waterford, on Tuesday, November 17.
Republic of Ireland U21 Head Coach Noel King has announced his squad for the forthcoming UEFA U21 Championships Group 2 fixture against Lithuania on Friday, November 13th in Vilnius and a friendly against Norway in the RSC, Waterford, on Tuesday, November 17th.
The Irish are joint top of the group with nine points from their opening four games. Italy, Serbia and Slovenia also have nine points each.
“We are totally focused on Lithuania. We had a very good performance against them in Waterford earlier this month and we are looking for a similar performance and a similar result in Vilnius” said King.
“This is a hugely important game for us. We want to stay in the hunt for qualification and 12 points from the first 15 available would be a super start. This particular Irish team has a clear focus on what they want, they are together and determined to achieve it.
“The dressing room was full of disappointment after the 1-0 defeat in Italy. This stemmed from the fact that they had competed at a very high level and deserved something from the game. The only thing missing was goals. The team competed very well and limited them to just one shot on target while creating several chances ourselves.
“The players have set a high standard that they want to maintain it. The next test is winning in Lithuania.
Using the same squad, the U21’s will travel home to play a friendly game against Norway on November 17 in the RSC, Waterford (7.45pm).
King added: “Norway always prove an attraction and are a very difficult opponent, but at this moment the only focus is Lithuania. All our concentration and effort will go into trying to beat them in Vilnius and come back to the RSC with 12 out of 15 points. It’s a difficult task, but one this team are determined to succeed in.”
“The crowd at the RSC for our last home game against Lithuania were fantastic and they really got behind the team and the players appreciated that. We want to make this excellent stadium our fortress and hopefully we will come back from Lithuania with a victory and everyone will be in good spirits for the game against Norway”.
Republic of Ireland U21 Squad:
Daniel Rogers (Aberdeen -on loan at Falkirk), Eric Grimes (Leeds United), Sean Long (Reading FC – on-loan at Luton Town), Jack Connors (Dagenham & Redbridge), Glen Rea (Brighton – on loan at Southend United), Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers), Alan Browne (Preston North End), Callum O’Dowda (Oxford United), Josh Cullen (West Ham United),
Conor Wilkinson (Bolton – on loan at Barnsley), Jack Byrne (Man City – on loan at Cambuur)
Sean Kavanagh (Fulham), Reece Grego-Cox (QPR FC), Dylan Connolly (Ipswich Town), Shane Griffin (Reading FC), Henry Charsley (Everton FC), Sean Hoare (St Patrick’s Athletic), Sean Maguire (Dundalk FC), Lee Desmond (St Patrick’s Athletic), Kenneth McEvoy (Tottenham – on loan at Stevenage), Sam Byrne (Everton FC).
