Ahead of a crucial Under 21 European Championship qualifier against Slovakia, Ireland manager Jim Crawford has been speaking about two Kildare players in his squad

On a dark day for the Irish senior football team, Michael Noonan stepped off the bench to break an Under 21 goalscoring record and offer a glimmer of hope for the future while Cathal McCarthy's meteoric rise continues 

Kildare duo Michael Noonan and Cathal McCarthy have been called up to the Republic of Ireland U21 squad for the first time by manager Jim Crawford

Cathal McCarthy part of the Hull City squad that started the season with a draw away to Coventry City