Three players from the West of Ireland have been selected on Republic of Ireland U21 boss Jim Crawford’s 25-man squad to face Israel in the UEFA Under-21 Championship qualification play-offs later this month.
Belcarra native Luke McNicholas and Tubbercurry man Liam Kerrigan have been chosen, and in what is a shock to many – Galway native Aaron Connolly returns to the U21 grade.
On Friday, September 23, Ireland play host to Israel in the first leg at Tallaght Stadium, with a 7pm kick-off. Then four days later, on Tuesday, September 27, the Boys in Green will travel to Israel for the second leg in Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv with a 6.15pm kick-off (Irish time).
If they overcome this hurdle they will be at the European Under-21 Championships in Romania and Georgia. It will be Ireland’s first time in the finals.
