Kilcullen's Jacob leads Ireland against France

The rapid upward trajectory of Jamie Jacob’s career reached another milestone this week when he captained the Republic of Ireland Under-16 team in a friendly against France at Clairefontaine.

The Kilcullen youngster, who plays his football with Shamrock Rovers, was part of the Ireland squad that played two games against the hosts this week.

Although Ireland lost the game Jacob captained 2-1, it was still a significant landmark in his career.

Jacob came through the ranks at his hometown club before joining Rovers, and Kilcullen AFC praised their former player on social media.

“What an achievement for Jamie Jacob. Jamie was in Kilcullen's Academy from U8, and left us in Summer 2025 to join Shamrock Rovers, with everyone at the clubs blessings and well wishes. Having captained his club for several years and captained the KDUL Kennedy Cup squad twice, this is no surprise to the players and coaches closest to JJ. Jamie is still a regular and very welcomed visitor to the Kilcullen AFC 2010 groups games.

We're sure this is a very proud moment for Jamie's parents Annmarie and Vinny. Super achievement for this sports mad family,” read the post.

Jacob is one of a number of Kildare players who will pull on the green jersey during a busy international period.

Another Kilcullen native, Ryan Sheridan, is part of the Ireland Under-17 squad that will play three friendlies against the USA, the Netherlands and Norway in Spain. Sheridan scored his first senior goal for St Patrick’s Athletic earlier this week and is spearheading the Richmond Park outfit’s SSE Airtricity League Premier Division title challenge. Ireland are currently preparing for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, with Sheridan expected to be a key figure in their plans.

At Under-19 level, Maynooth’s Alex Noonan and Ballymore’s Sean Murphy are included in the squad for four friendlies, including a meeting with England at St George’s Park, as preparations continue for the UEFA European Championship qualifiers in November. Goalkeeper Noonan completed a move from Shamrock Rovers to Ipswich Town just before the close of the summer transfer window.

Murphy recently signed for Shamrock Rovers but remains on loan with UCD until the end of the season.

For Jim Crawford’s Under-21s, who travel to Slovakia before home fixtures against Kazakhstan and England at Turner’s Cross in Cork, both Ellistown’s Michael Noonan and Caragh’s Cathal McCarthy have been included.

Ireland’s hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Under-21 Championship are hanging by a thread and they will need positive results in all three matches to keep their chances alive.

Much of the spotlight will be on Noonan, who appears set for a move to Premier League side Nottingham Forest next summer once his contract with Shamrock Rovers expires.

Speaking during the week, Crawford said that Nottingham Forest Head of Development and former Ireland international Andy Reid is the right man to help Noonan fulfil his potential.

“Andy’s got some amazing plans in place for the individual, for Michael. There’s one thing for sure, there’ll be no stone unturned to help Michael reach the ceiling in football,” said Crawford.

McCarthy, meanwhile, has been playing regularly in Scotland since joining Kilmarnock on loan from parent club Hull City and will hope to reap the benefits of that experience.

With Nathan Collins injured, and Mark Travers and Andrew Omobamidele out of favour, there are no Kildare-born players in the senior squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures. However, new recruit Liam Kitching is believed to have declared for Ireland through his Kildare-born grandmother.

On the women’s side of things, Sallins native Ruby Boland and Maynooth's Skye Barrett featured in two friendlies against Belgium earlier this month for the Ireland Under-17s. Attention for that team now turns to the upcoming European Championship qualifiers in Albania against Azerbaijan (September 28), Albania (October 1) and Kosovo (October 4).