PROMISING YOUNG RANGERS striker Matthew Shiels has been named in the Ireland U18 squad for the first time, despite having previously played for Scotland at underage international level.
The 17-year-old has been capped by his native Scotland at U16 and U17 but has unexpectedly been included in Jim Crawford’s Ireland panel for an upcoming tournament.
If he was to pursue an international career with Ireland, Shiels would follow in the footsteps of Aiden McGeady and James McCarthy.
Shiels, who is part of the Rangers U20 development squad, is one of 16 UK-based players in Crawford’s 20-strong squad for this week’s quadrangular tournament in Spain.
Aaron Bolger (Shamrock Rovers), Andy Lyons (Bohemians), Brian Maher and Richard O’Farrell (both St Patrick’s Athletic) are the four home-based players included.
Ireland face Belgium on Thursday before games against Netherlands and Czech Republic over the weekend in Murcia.
Ireland U18 squad:
Aaron Connolly (Brighton), Aaron Bolger (Shamrock Rovers), Adam Idah (Norwich), Andy Lyons (Bohemians), Brian Maher (St Patrick’s Ath), Ciaran Brennan (Sheffield Wednesday), Conor Coventry (West Ham United), Gavin Kilkenny (Bournemouth), Joe Redmond (Birmingham), Jordan Doherty (Sheffield United), Kameron Ledwidge (Southampton), Kevin Healy (West Bromwich Albion), Matthew Shiels (Rangers), Michael Obafemi (Southampton), Oisin McEntee (Newcastle United), Richard O’Farrell (St Patrick’s Ath), Rory Brown (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Rowan Roache (Blackpool), Will Ferry (Southampton), Will Smallbone (Southampton).
Fixtures:
- Republic of Ireland v Belgium, 9 November, Pinatar Arena
- Republic of Ireland v Netherlands, 11 November, Pinatar Arena
- Republic of Ireland v Czech Republic, 13 November, Pinatar Arena
Subscribe to The42 podcasts here:
I know it is February, I know it is the league, I know it is Offaly
@Fergus McGrath: diff
@Fergus McGrath: different tears in Michael Duignan’s eyes this evening
Limerick surely favourites for Liam this year by the looks of things!
@Paddy: you MUST be a hurling genius
@conor murphy: By god I am, having listened to many a Limerick fan over the years, they have me NEARLY brainwashed
@Paddy: limerick favourites? You mad? A munster final and all ireland semi (even though I think there’s more in this side) I’d be happy with for this year
@David Dooley: Excuse me for not making my sarcasm more clear.
@David Dooley: That would be an amazing season for Limerick, I can’t see it happening though..
I was at the game. Limerick were very poor for long periods in the game. The team still appear to be preoccupied with possession hurling from the back( think man city). Offaly got great success from pressing hard in limerick halfback line and midfield area. Limerick weren’t clever enough to recognise this and see the space behind that press and were regularly turned over. The turning points were a missed penalty, soft sending off and 5 pointable frees by iffy.