Manchester United teen Jacob Devaney declares for Ireland

The 17-year-old is a holding midfielder who was promoted to United’s first-team for training last season and is part of the development squad coached by ex-Ireland defender Paul McShane.

Mon, 02 Sep, 2024 - 15:36

John Fallon

Manchester United’s highly-rated teen midfielder Jacob Devaney has declared his allegiance to Ireland and will make his U19 debut against France on Thursday.

His father Martin, a former player and currently assistant manager of Barnsley, expressed his delight on social media, noting how the English-born player’s late Granddad “would be smiling from above”.

Devaney (17) is a holding midfielder who was promoted to United’s first-team for training last season and is part of the development squad coached by ex-Ireland defender Paul McShane.

There are maiden call-ups too for Cian Dillon of Shamrock Rovers, 16-year-old goalkeeper Cian O’Shea from Stockport County (on loan at Stockport Town), UCD’s Cathal McCarthy, Finn Harps' Aaron McLaughlin and Declan Osagie of Bohemians.

We are delighted☘️🇮🇪Jacob to represent Ireland. As a family so proud! Grandad will be smiling from above ❤️ pic.twitter.com/wAz7NDMH4G
— Martin Devaney (@Martindevaney1) September 2, 2024

Ireland manager Tom Mohan has also included 16-year-old sensation Mason Melia but owing to St Patrick’s Athletic’s game against Dundalk on Thursday, he’ll link up with the panel for the last two friendlies against Kazakhstan and hosts Slovenia.

Colin O’Brien’s U17s head to Spain for a double-header against Denmark. He’s called upon another in-demand St Pat’s striker, recently turned 16-year-old Michael Noonan.

Both teams are using the games as part of their preparation for their respective Euro qualification groups with the U17s making the trip to the North to face Lithuania, Northern Ireland and Scotland in October.

The U19s will travel to Moldova in November to take on the hosts as well as Azerbaijan and Iceland.

Ireland Men’s U19 squad:

Goalkeepers: Marcus Gill (Celtic), Cian O’Shea (Stockport Town, on loan from Stockport County)

Defenders: Stanley Ashbee (Hull City), Jake Grante (Crystal Palace), Kaylem Harnett (Wexford FC), Harry McGlinchey (Chelsea), Cathal McCarthy (UCD), Cory O’Sullivan (Shamrock Rovers), Declan Osagie (Bohemians), Freddie Turley (Derby County)

Midfielders: Romeo Akachukwu (Southampton), Jacob Devaney (Manchester United), Ryan Kelly (Shamrock Rovers), Danny McGrath (Lommel SK), Cathal O’Sullivan (Cork City), John O’Sullivan (Bray Wanderers, on loan from Shamrock Rovers), Aaron Ochoa Moloney (Malaga)

Forwards: Cian Dillon (Shamrock Rovers) Aaron McLaughlin (Finn Harps), Mason Melia (St.Patrick’s Athletic), Ike Orazi (Stade de Reimes), Sean Patton (Derry City), Naj Razi (FC Como) Ireland Men’s U19 fixtures in Slovenia:

Thursday, September 5 | Ireland MU19 v France MU19, FTC Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, KO 4pm (Irish time).

Saturday, September 7 | Kazakhstan MU19 v Ireland MU19, FTC Preddvor, Slovenia, KO 4pm (Irish time).

Tuesday, September 10 | Slovenia MU19 v Ireland MU19, Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, KO 9.30am (Irish time).