Stephen Kenny names home-based Ireland under-21 squad to face Irish amateurs

Stephen Kenny has announced his first squad as Republic of Ireland Under-21 manager this afternoon and also officially unveiled his backroom team for the upcoming campaign.

The squad is made up of home-based players only, with all but two of the players named representing the Airtricity League.

Michael O’Connor of Linfield and Ronan Hale of Crusaders are the two players selected from the Northern Ireland Premiership

Bohemians lead the way in club representation with four players included from the Dalymount Park outfit: Andy Lyons, Darragh Leahy, Daniel Mandroiu and Robbie McCourt.

Nine of the ten Premier Division clubs represented in total, with three each from UCD (Conor Kearns, Liam Scales, Neil Farrugia) and Shamrock Rovers (Trevor Clarke, Aaron Bolger, Brandon Kavanagh).

The squad announced today will take on the Ireland Amateur team in a friendly on Wednesday, February 6th at 7.45pm in Whitehall.

Kenny also took the opportunity today to officially unveil his backroom staff for the upcoming campaign with former Ireland international Keith Andrews being named assistant coach.

Republic of Ireland U-21 Training squad:

Goalkeepers: Conor Kearns (UCD), Ross Treacy (Dundalk)

Defenders: Andy Lyons (Bohemians), Darragh Leahy (Bohemians), Conor McCarthy (Cork City), Trevor Clarke (Shamrock Rovers), Liam Scales (UCD), John Mahon (Sligo Rovers).



Midfielders: Dan Mandroiu (Bohemians), Aaron Bolger (Shamrock Rovers), JJ Lunney (Waterford), Jamie Lennon (St. Patrick's Athletic), Brandon Kavanagh (Shamrock Rovers), Robbie McCourt (Bohemians).

Forwards: Ronan Hale (Crusaders), Neil Farrugia (UCD), Michael O'Connor (Linfield), Will Fitzgerald (Limerick), Zach Elbouzedi (Waterford), Karl O'Sullivan (Limerick).