The Boys in Green made the country sit up and take notice after an impressive 2-1 victory over Greece in their UEFA Under-19 Championships opener in Romania last night. We take a closer look at the members of Paul Doolin’s squad.
Aaron McCarey: McCarey is a Monaghan native who signed for Mick McCarthy’s Wolves from Monaghan United in January last year. Went on a one-month emergency loan to Telford United earlier this season, but he has a bright future at Molineux as long as McCarthy remains at the helm, as the bacon-slicer-fearing former Irish boss has spoken of his admiration for McCarey’s talents.
McCarey is the only player in the squad to have played every minute of every qualifier in the lead up to the tournament.
Matthew Doherty: Another member of the growing Irish stable at Wolves, Doherty was snapped up by Mick McCarthy after impressing in a friendly while playing for Bohemians last August, which was, incidentally, his first appearance in the Gypsies’ first XI.
Comfortable at full-back or centre back, Doherty has only made one appearance for Wolves since his move cross-channel, against Doncaster in the FA Cup in January, but he has been an unused sub in four Premier League games.
Derrick Williams: A versatile performer, Williams has been used by Paul Doolin at the heart of the Irish defence but can play at left back and also in midfield. Originally from Tramore in Waterford, Williams has been at Aston Villa for years and was an integral member of the title-winning Academy side last season.
John Egan: Sporting excellence runs in the genes in the Egan family; John is named after his Dad who was a part of the greatest ever Kerry team, winning six All-Ireland titles and five All-Stars in a distinguished career.
A leader on the pitch, John is captain of the Irish under-19’s. Having signed for Sunderland from Greenwood FC in Cork in 2009, John was also made captain of the Sunderland youth team at the start of last season and had made six appearances for the Black Cats’ reserve side by the end of the campaign.
Anthony O’Connor: Ireland’s match-winner in their opening game of the tournament against Greece, Cork native O’Connor has been at Blackburn Rovers for the last two years.
Anthony O’Connor and John Egan celebrate O’Connor’s second goal against Greece last night
A tall and classy defender with an eye for goal, O’Connor has featured for Rovers’ reserve side in the last two seasons after an impressive apprenticeship in the Academy side. With Phil Jones gone and Christopher Samba reportedly on his way out of Ewood Park, O’Connor could well get a run in Steve Kean’s first XI next season.
Jeff Hendrick: Dubliner Hendrick has been involved with the first team at Derby County for the last two seasons, making the bench for a clash with Cardiff City before he had even signed a professional contract on the last day of the 2009/10 season.
A central midfielder by trade, Hendrick featured four times as a substitute for the Rams last season and has become a crucial member of the Irish under-19s, continuing his impressive form at underage levels for Ireland, having been shortlisted for the Irish under-17 player of the year last summer.
Samir Carruthers: Highly rated at Aston Villa, Carruthers signed a new contract at the midlands club at the end of last season after impressing for the Academy and reserve sides. A former Arsenal trainee, Carruthers declared for Ireland through his grandparents and knows where the net is, having struck four times in 11 appearances for the Villa reserves in the last campaign.
John O’Sullivan: Another Dubliner, attacking midfielder O’Sullivan moved up to the reserves at Blackburn Rovers after a string of impressive displays for the Academy side.
A man that can operate up front, on the flank or behind the front two, O’Sullivan is yet another product of the Belvedere club in the capital.
Conor Murphy: The only member of the squad to ply his trade in the Airtricity League, Murphy has caught the eye in Bray Wanderers’ excellent and somewhat unexpected run this season, which has seen them keep well in touch with the big guns this side of the water.
Murphy has notched eight goals for the Seagulls this season and has flourished since signing from Shamrock Rovers in February, having previously been with Middlesbrough.
Anthony Forde: Limerick native Forde is the youngest member of Paul Doolin’s squad and is yet another element of the strong Irish contingent with Wolves, which includes under-19 teammates Aaron McCarey and Matthew Doherty as well as several members of the senior squad.
An energetic midfielder, Forde joined Wolves after his Junior Cert after playing for Kingdom Boys and Ballingarry at home. Played in all three of Ireland’s qualifiers in Poland and is regarded as a bright prospect.
Sean Murray: Tipped to have a big future at Watford, Murray made his first senior start for the Hornets towards the end of last season, having made a substitute appearance against Championship winners QPR back in April.
Born in London but eligible for Ireland through his grandparents, Murray is a key member of Doolin’s side and had a hand in both of Anthony O’Connor’s goals against Greece.
Sean McDermott: Arsenal netminder McDermott was actually born in Norway, but qualifies to play for the Boys in Green through his father, who hails from Donegal. McDermott joined the Gunners in 2009 and is eligible for the under-19s again next year.
Kevin Knight: Knight earned a late call-up to the squad on the basis of some stand-out performances for the Ireland under-17s last season. Currently without a club after being released from Leicester City, a number of clubs have expressed an interest in taking him on.
Kane Ferdinand: A cousin of Rio and his less talented brother Anton, Kane, unlike his relatives, plies his trade in the centre of midfield. Kane made a big impression at Southend United last season with 22 appearances overall.
The 18-year old has been with Southend since 2006 and will be there until the end of 2013 if he fulfils a two and a half year contract signed earlier this year. Qualifies for Ireland through his father, who was born in Dublin.
Eoin Wearen: Snapped up by West Ham from St. Kevin’s Boys two seasons ago, Wearen is a tenacious and tough-tackling midfielder who was sent off against Ukraine in the qualifiers and subsequently missed out on the clash with Italy.
Declan Walker: A regular at Wrexham United, Declan was born in England, but has Irish connections and made his debut for the under-19s last year. Full back by trade, but could also play on the wing such is his tendency to bomb forward and his penchant for scoring goals.
Joe Shaughnessy: From Galway, Shaughnessy made his first team debut for Aberdeen last season and was a late substitute for Derrick Williams in the win over Greece. Shaughnessy played for Mervue United and Salthill Devon before joining the Dons and was on the scoresheet in Ireland’s 3-0 win over Italy during qualification.
Connor Smith: You may remember Smith as one of three finalists from the Sky series Football’s Next Star, where the winner won a professional contract with Serie A giants Inter Milan. Smith didn’t win, but the Mullingar born teenager eventually earned himself a contract at Championship side Watford.
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