REPUBLIC of Ireland U-19 manager Sean McCaffrey has named an 18-man squad for next week’s friendlies against Slovakia in Bratislava — their final preparatory games before the UEFA Championship Elite phase qualifiers in June.

SEÁN MCCAFFREY’S Irish U19 side yesterday qualified for the elite qualifying phase of the UEFA Championship’s but they were made to work hard for the victory against a very defensive Liechtenstein team with Chelsea’s Conor Clifford’s strike in the 84th minute proving to be the difference between the two teams.

REPUBLIC of Ireland manager Sean McCaffrey has named an 18-man squad for the UEFA U17 Elite Phase tournament (March 13-18).

IRELAND’S U-19 side were unlucky losers to an impressive Portugal in a friendly at Belfield last night.

TOTTENHAM defender Cian Hughton — son of former Irish and Spurs full-back Chris Hughton — will make his first International appearance of the season tonight when Ireland’s U-19’s host Chile in Athlone (7.30pm).