Derry City duo Curtis and Hale named in Ireland under-21 squad for World Cup qualifier
Credit: John-Paul McGinley (ETPhotos)
Derry City duo Ronan Curtis and Rory Hale have been selected in the Ireland under-21 squad for the key World Cup qualifying tie at home to Azerbaijan later this month.
Recent Cork City arrival Danny Kane is the third domestically-based player in the squad, who will also play Iceland in a friendly at Tallaght Stadium before hosting the Azeris.
West Ham United's Declan Rice and Manchester United goalkeeper Kieran O'Hara have been called up to the senior international squad but will link back up with the 21s in time to face Azerbaijan.
Queens Park Rangers winger Olamide Shodipo – who scored the only goal in Ireland's campaign opener at home to Kosovo – has been recalled following injury.
Noel King's sit second in Group 5, two points behind leaders Germany, after five games after picking up three wins and just one defeat, away to Norway in November.
Derry's league games against Dundalk and Cork City have been postponed as a result of call-ups to Ireland and Northern Ireland squads.
"I'm really looking forward to getting the players back in and working with them to continue what we've achieved during this campaign,” King told the association's website.
"I want to extend my congratulations to Declan Rice and Kieran O'Hara who received call-ups to the senior squad for the match against Turkey.
“It is a great opportunity for them and we look forward to welcoming them back into the squad for the Azerbaijan match.
"It's also great to see Olamide Shodipo back in the squad after injury. He proved in the first match of the campaign against Kosovo what a crucial member of the squad he is, scoring the winning goal.
"The Iceland match will be a great opportunity for us to prepare for the qualifier against Azerbaijan and I expect the players to continue to maintain the high standards they've set themselves already in this campaign."
Ireland meet Iceland at Tallaght Stadium on Thursday, March 22nd before facing Azerbaijan in the same location on Tuesday, March 27th (both games kick off 7.30pm).
Republic of Ireland U21 squad
Goalkeepers: Kieran O'Hara (Manchester United), Liam Bossin (Nottingham Forest), Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool).
Defenders: Danny Kane (Cork City), Ryan Sweeney (Stoke City - on loan at Bristol Rovers), Shaun Donnellan (Yeovil Town), Corey Whelan (Liverpool - on loan at Yeovil Town), Liam Kinsella (Walsall), Ryan Delaney (Rochdale AFC).
Midfielders: Josh Cullen (West Ham United), Harry Charsley (Everton - on loan at Bolton Wanderers), Rory Hale (Derry City), Declan Rice (West Ham United), Connor Ronan (Wolverhampton Wanderers - on loan at Portsmouth), Connor Dimaio (Unattached).
Attackers: Reece Grego-Cox (Woking FC), Ryan Manning (QPR), Ronan Curtis (Derry City), Joe Quigley (AFC Bournemouth - on loan at Boreham Wood), Jake Mulraney (Inverness CT), Olamide Shodipo (QPR - on loan at Colchester United).
