McCarthy named in Irish squad for U21 Play-Offs
Cathal McCarthy is congratulated by manager Jim Crawford Ireland beat England at Turner's Cross to qualify for the qualification play-offs of the UEFA Under 21 European Championships Photo: ©INPHO/Nick Elliott
Cathal McCarthy has been included in the Republic of Ireland Men’s Under-21s squad named by Head Coach Jim Crawford for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship Play-Offs against Finland, but there is no place for Michael Noonan.
Ireland qualified for the play-offs after winning all three games in the last international window, including a brilliant win over England at Turner’s Cross.
McCarthy, on-loan from Hull City at Kilmarnock, featured in all those games and showed his versatility while filling in at right-back in that win over England.
It means that Ireland will play in the reaching the Play-Offs for just the second time in Irish Under-21s history, and they are hoping to secure qualification for the European Championships for the first time.
Elsewhere in the squad, included in an Under-21s squad for the first time is Hibernian’s Owen Elding who earned his first senior cap in the last international window and has been in impressive form for the Edinburgh side.
Matteo Egan is also named in an Under-21s squad for the first time with the teenager having establish himself as part of the first team at Italian club Empoli. Matteo was first capped with Ireland at Under-16s level.
Former Dundalk striker Gbemi Arubi returns to squad having broken into the Burton Albion first team and Bromley’s Owen Mason earns another call-up having been ruled out in the September/October qualifiers through injury.
Ireland face Finland over two legs with the first on Friday, November 13 (kick-off 4.15pm Irish time). The young Boys in Green then return to Ireland and take on the Finns at the Munster FA Turners Cross Stadium in Cork on Tuesday, November 17 (kick-off 5.45pm).
Noah Jauny (Royal Francs Borains), Owen Mason (Bromley), Conor Walsh (Shelbourne) Defenders: Adam Brennan (Shamrock Rovers), Matteo Egan (Empoli), Oisin Gallagher (Barnet, on loan from Lincoln City), Sean Grehan (Doncaster Rovers), Cathal McCarthy (Kilmarnock, on loan from Hull City), Conor McManus (Gillingham), Alex Murphy (1 FC Kaiserslautern, on loan from Newcastle United), David Okagbue (Peterborough United).
Romeo Akachukwu (Southampton), Jacob Devaney (Hibernian, on loan from Manchester United), Rory Finneran (Notts County, on loan from Newcastle United), Darius Luipsic (Notts County), Jamie Mullins (Wycombe Wanderers).
Gbemi Arbui (Burton Albion), Leon Ayinde (Doncaster Rovers), Owen Elding (Hibernian), Trent Kone Doherty (Molde), Tommy Lonergan (Waterford), Kian McMahon Brown (Shrewsbury Town, on loan from Burnley), Ike Orazi (Stade de Reims).
Friday, November 13th | Finland MU21 v Ireland MU21 | Tammelan Stadion, Tampere, Finland | KO 6.15pm (local time) / 4.15pm (Irish Time) | LIVE on Virgin Media Two
Tuesday, November 17th | Ireland MU21 v Finland MU21 | Munster FA Turner's Cross Stadium, Cork | KO 5.45pm | LIVE on Virgin Media Two
