Ryan Manning targeting bigger things with Ireland

First called up for the Ireland senior team late in 2018, it was two years before the Southampton man made his debut and he is still to breach the 20-cap mark all this time later

MANNING THE FORT: Ryan Manning during a Republic of Ireland training session at the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Matt Doherty had only turned 10 at the start of the year, and Evan Ferguson wouldn’t arrive into the world for another three years and four months, when the Republic of Ireland last featured at a senior men’s World Cup.

Ryan Manning turned six two days before Mick McCarthy’s side lost that agonising penalty shootout to Spain in the round of 16 in Suwon. He watched the game in a pub with his family back in Galway. Great memories.