LAST UPDATE | 15 Sep 2022
AARON CONNOLLY HAS been named in the Ireland U21 squad for their vital European Championship play-off with Israel later this month.
First reported by The42, Jim Crawford has included the forward in his squad. Connolly is currently on loan with Venezia in Serie B and has accepted a call-up.
The 22-year-old is still eligible for the age group and, despite having earned eight senior caps since 2019, is prepared to drop back down as he continues his bid to revitalise his career.
Joe Redmond of St Patrickโs Athletic has also earned a place in Crawfordโs squad, with Walsall defender Oisin McEntee absent through injury.
Festy Ebosele, who was part of the senior squad for the Ukraine Nations League tie, is named in the U21 group after he was not included in Stephen Kennyโs squad earlier today.
๐ฌ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ ๐ฆ๐พ๐๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ชโฝ๏ธ
โ FAIreland โฝ๏ธ๐ฎ๐ช (@FAIreland) September 15, 2022
๐ข Aaron Connolly back involved with the U21s
๐ข Connell, Ebosele, Redmond and Roughan return to squad
๐ข First ๐ฎ๐ช call-up for Finn Azaz
๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐๐ซ๐ง๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ
23/09 | ๐ฎ๐ช๐๐ฎ๐ฑ
27/09 | ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐๐ฎ๐ช#IRLU21 | #COYBIG | #WeAreOne pic.twitter.com/XxrDyZHMnf
The inclusion of Connolly catches the eye given his own career trajectory. He netted a brace on his full Premier League debut for Brighton against Tottenham Hotspur in 2019, but inconsistency and injury has hampered him since.
After struggling to establish himself as a first-team regular at the Seagulls, he spent the second half of last season on loan at Middlesbrough but did not set the Championship alight, with two goals in 18 appearances for Chris Wilderโs side.
Itโs been a similar story at international level and he has not featured for the Boys in Green since the 1-1 draw with Azerbaijan this time last year.
Connolly moved to Italy this summer and he also opened up to Irish Football Fan TV about some of his struggles, as well as explaining how conversations with senior manager Stephen Kenny made it clear he needed to try and rediscover his work ethic.
โPhysically and mentally, I havenโt felt this strong in a long time, โ Connolly said.
โA lot of people know why I havenโt kicked on and I know myself. Thatโs why this move to Italy was vital, just to get away from the circle I was in back in England, I needed a fresh start.
โMy confidence was on the deck when I missed chances and hadnโt been playing. I wasnโt in the right place to go on loan last year.
โI did it because I wanted to play football but I wish this version of myself right now had shown up at Middlesbrough. It would have been a different story.โ
The first leg of Irelandโs European Championship playoff against Israel will take place at Tallaght Stadium on Friday week.
Republic of Ireland Under-21s Squad
Goalkeepers: Brian Maher (Derry City), Luke McNicholas (Sligo Rovers), David Harrington (Cork City).
Defenders: Eiran Cashin (Derby County), Festy Ebosele (Udinese), Andy Lyons (Shamrock Rovers), Mark McGuinness (Sheffield Wednesday on loan from Cardiff City), Jake OโBrien (RWD Molenbeek, on loan from Crystal Palace), Lee OโConnor (Tranmere Rovers), Joe Redmond (St Patrickโs Athletic), Sean Roughan (Lincoln City)
Midfielders: Finn Azaz (Plymouth Argyle, on loan from Aston Villa), Luca Connell (Barnsley), Conor Coventry (West Ham), Dawson Devoy (MK Dons), Joe Hodge (Wolves), Will Smallbone (Southampton), Ross Tierney (Motherwell)
Forwards: Aaron Connolly (Venezia, on loan from Brighton), Evan Ferguson (Brighton), JJ Kayode (MK Dons), Liam Kerrigan (Como), Ollie OโNeill (Fulham), Mipo Odubeko (Port Vale, on loan from West Ham), Tyreik Wright (Bradford City, on loan from Aston Villa)
Monaghan putting it up to Dublin in the second half certainly not a walk over. 53 minutes in and all square
League final for the rebels but will have to step it up against the Dubs as I expect them to brush Monaghan aside. Think itโs time the Northern to drop the blanket defenceโฆ. shocking to watch.
Itโs been adopted by all teams below Division 1, if they try to match the big guns man to man theyโll get blown out if the water! Itโs no longer just a Northern style
Maybe open your eyes Owl when watching a match and form your own unique opinions instead of following the mediaโs approach on criticising the northern teams. Donegal for one donโt have a blanket defence for the sake of negativity. The have a system that works and forwards that can cause real damage like against Dublin last year. They scored 19 points today. What a terribly negative teamโฆ.
Maybe you should watch that game again. โฆ blanket defence on show all day. Cork put pressure on them to come out and play and NOT because it was Donegals game plan. My opinions are formed by actually watching the game and not just reading the resultโฆ
You sir, can suck my white hammer.
Good man Jimmy. โฆ constructive yet to the point !
Well I was at the game today so i saw quite clearly how Donegal played. You clearly have little understanding of how their tactics work. You may as well stick to the blanket criticism of every ulster team playing purely negative football.
How their tactics work ????
Yes I can see it works a treat. Silly little comment.