There will be no quarter-final place for Ireland in the U17 European Championships for a third year in a row after the hosts could only manage a third draw in a row and bowed out of this year’s tournament.

There’s been a fair bit of talk about nerves in the build-up to the U17 European Championship Finals which finally kick-off today.

Ireland manager Colin O’Brien is talking about the progress being made by Gavin Bazunu, the precocious goalkeeping talent who joined Manchester City from Shamrock Rovers earlier this year, when he offloads a timely reminder of the still tender years of all the players who are now busily gearing up to represent their country in the U17 European Championship finals which kick off in Dublin on Friday.

Manager Colin O’Brien is hoping for the green light from Spurs to allow Troy Parrott to join up with the Irish U17 squad ahead of the Euro Finals which kick off on Friday.