'Cathal excites me' - Ireland U21 boss looking forward to linking up with O'Sullivan

“I dealt with Ger when he worked at Aston Villa and he’s an astute football man who will help Cork City,” added Jim Crawford.

Wed, 21 May, 2025 - 23:00

John Fallon

Ireland U21 boss Jim Crawford admits his excitement at working with Cathal O‘Sullivan, as the prodigy aims to transfer his Cork City form onto the international stage.

The nippy winger has earned his first call-up for the June friendlies against Croatia and Qatar, the final warm-ups before Ireland embark on a Euro qualifying campaign group that includes Lee Carsley’s holders England.

Having turned 18 in March, the Leesider is free to join a UK club during the July window.

That is dependent on an English Premier League club meeting the asking price of Cork City but newly-crowned FA Cup holders Crystal Palace lead the queue and are prepared to table an upfront fee of around €400,000.

“Cathal excites me,” admits the U21 supremo.

“I don’t want to compare him with former international players but he reminds me of certain players. His x-factor is being on the ball and creating things.

“With his ability, he’ll get bums off seats. He missed out on the Ireland U19s due to injury but were always aware of his ability. He was excellent in the First Division, scoring and creating goals as well as working hard for his team.

“His next step was playing in our top league and once again he’s been excellent.

“From that position on the right inside channel, he knows when to move centrally and is a threat on goal. He has that work ethic and it’s not every player’s cup of tea to track back.

“They’re facets of a player that the senior Ireland manager will look for and it’s only a matter of time before he moves to the UK.”

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Crawford doesn’t have a preference as to whether O’Sullivan completes the season at City, where he’s a guaranteed starter.

Irish exports have suffered from prolonged spells in the U21 teams of English teams but the Ireland boss feels there can be a beneficial shelf life. Securing a loan move seems a logical step in his progression plan.

“Playing first-team football is exceptionally important but if Cathal leaves in July, he’ll have to learn the club’s philosophy,” noted Crawford.

“They might do things differently and he’ll be involved in a decent games programme.

“I know from watching U21 development matches when a player has outgrown it. He’s ripe for a loan move which becomes the next conundrum.

“He’s gone from Cork’s first team to learning in the U21 development side but it’s about getting a loan to a move that mirrors his parent club but help him develop his own games.

“There’s a lot to that and why these clubs have Loans Managers.

“It will be character building for him going from a full house at Turner’s Cross to U21 football. There are areas of the game, technical and tactical, that he’ll learn at that level.”

One of Crawford’s fellow graduates from his Uefa Pro Licence course, Ger Nash, will oversee the final games of this City stint for O’Sullivan.

Points in the final two games before the international break, away to Galway United on Friday and at home to champions Shelbourne on Friday week, are imperative for City to ease fears over being relegated straight back the second tier.

“I dealt with Ger when he worked at Aston Villa and he’s an astute football man who will help Cork City,” Crawford said.

“He’s already been onto me about a few potential new players in the window as he’s working around the clock but Ger will be good for the youngsters from his time at Villa.”

Meanwhile, Crawford insists Kevin Zefi is committed to Ireland despite an U21 call-up from Albania.

“Kevin has talent and skill that needs nurturing and harnessing,” the manager said about the Roma winger he didn’t include in this squad.

“I don’t know how realistic it is to break into the Roma first-team but he knows what he has to do. He’s 20 now and needs to start the performance phase of his career.”

Ireland U21s squad v Croatia on June 6, Qatar June 10:

Goalkeepers: Killian Barrett (Sheffield Wednesday), Noah Jauny (Stade Brestois), Aaron Maguire (Tottenham Hotspur), Andrew Wogan (Stockport County).

Defenders: Sam Curtis (Sheffield United), Sean Grehan (Bohemians, on loan from Crystal Palace), Alex Murphy (Newcastle United), Cory O’Sullivan (Shamrock Rovers), David Okagbue (Walsall), Gabriel Otegbayo (Sheffield Wednesday), Jacob Slater (Brighton & Hove Albion).

Midfielders: Jacob Devaney (Manchester United), Darius Lipsiuc (Walsall, on loan from Stoke City), Jack Moorhouse (Manchester United), Jamie Mullins (Brighton & Hove Albion), Adam Murphy (Bristol City), Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh (Southampton), Cathal O’Sullivan (Cork City), Harry Vaughan (Hull City).

Forwards: Warren Davis (Drogheda United), Joe Gardner (Nottingham Forest), Jad Hakiki (Sligo Rovers), Mason Melia (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Mark O’Mahony (Brighton & Hove Albion).