Kilkenny’s Colm Whelan and Carlow’s Aoife Kelly are in line to feature in their respective international football fixtures later today.
UCD forward Whelan is part of Jim Crawford’s under 21 side who continue their European Championship qualifying campaign tonight.
They take on Group F leaders Sweden in Boras from 5pm. Last time out saw Ireland take a memorable 1-0 win over Sweden in Tallaght last November with virtually the last kick of the ball.
Festy Ebosele, Evan Ferguson and Will Smallbone have been ruled out. Eiran Cashin has returned to his club as he awaits the completion of his paperwork. Ahead of this one, manager Jim Crawford outlined the importance of the game.
“Qualification is in our hands if we can win. And automatic qualification too with Montenegro taking points off Italy the other night. That’s certainly the aim and if we can, we get a point behind Sweden with a game in hand and that’s our target for now. It’s a huge game, it’s probably for me the most important Under-21s game to date.”
Meanwhile, Carlow’s Aoife Kelly – now plying her trade with Shelbourne following a move from St. Patrick’s Carlow earlier this year – is in contention for an appearance against Iceland.
Kelly didn’t feature in Ireland’s 2-1 defeat to Finland at the weekend with Ireland now needing a win over Iceland this evening and results to go their way elsewhere in the hope of securing qualification for Bosnia-Herzegovina.
“If we do things to a high standard”, says manager James Scott before this evening’s game, “I’ve no doubt that this team can go and get a very positive result against Iceland if they perform to the levels that they have done this year. We’ve a chance and hopefully, Slovakia do us a favour in their game.”
Kick-off in Tallaght for that game is at midday.
Ireland U21 squad v Sweden
Goalkeepers: Brian Maher (Derry City), Luke McNicholas (Cliftonville, on loan from Sligo Rovers), David Odumosu (St. Patrick’s Athletic)
Defenders: Joel Bagan (Cardiff City), Andy Lyons (Shamrock Rovers), Oisin McEntee (Greenock Morton, on loan from Newcastle United), Mark McGuinness (Cardiff City), Jake O’Brien (Swindon Town, on loan from Crystal Palace), Lee O’Connor (Tranmere Rovers), Joe Redmond (St. Patrick’s Athletic)
Midfielders: Conor Coventry (MK Dons, on loan from West Ham United), Dawson Devoy (Bohemians), Gavin Kilkenny (Bournemouth), Killian Phillips (Crystal Palace), Ross Tierney (Motherwell)
Forwards: Darragh Burns (St. Patrick’s Athletic), JJ Kayode (Rotherham United), Mipo Odubeko (Doncaster Rovers, on loan from West Ham United), Ollie O’Neill (Fulham), Colm Whelan (UCD), Tyreik Wright (Colchester United, on loan from Aston Villa)
Ireland U17 squad v Iceland
Goalkeepers: Summer Lawless (Peamount United), Claudia Keenan (Wexford Youths)
Defenders: Meabh Russell (Wexford Youths), Heidi Macken (Cork City), Kate Thompson, Eve Dossen (Galway WFC), Aoibhe Fleming, Tara O’Hanlon (Peamount United)
Midfielders: Aoife Kelly (Shelbourne), Michaela Lawrence (Treaty United), Orlaith O’Mahony (Shamrock Rovers), Ellen Dolan (Peamount United), Jodie Loughrey (Donegal Women’s League)
Forwards: Abbie Larkin, Lia O’Leary, Katie McCarn (Shelbourne), Joy Ralph (DLR Waves), Keri Loughrey (Donegal Women’s League), Chloe Atkinson (Cork City)
