Cork City's Cillian Murphy called up to Ireland Under 21 squad for Croatia and Qatar friendlies

U21 CALL UP: Cork City's Cillian Murphy has been called up to the Ireland Under 21 squad. Pic: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

Cork City's 16-year-old striker Cillian Murphy has been called up to the Ireland Under 21 squad for their upcoming friendlies against Croatia and Qatar in Zagreb this week.

Head Coach Jim Crawford has handed eight players their first call-ups to a youthful Under 21s squad with senior international cap Rory Finneran named in the travelling 23.

Dundalk’s Gbemi Arubi has been rewarded for his League of Ireland Premier Division form with a place in the squad, his first call-up since representing Ireland at Men’s Under 19s level.

Murphy is also among those heading to Zagreb having helped the Ireland Men’s Under 17s reach the World Cup in Qatar with a hat-trick against Slovakia.

There are also first call-ups for Shamrock Rovers pair John O’Sullivan and Naj Razi who will be part of their first Under-21s squad.

Burnley’s Kian McMahon-Brown, who has impressed for both club and country this season, also gets the call as does Brighton & Hove Albion’s Sean Keogh and Stoke City’s Gabriel Kelly.

Doncaster Rovers’ Sean Grehan and Bohemians’ Harry Vaughan return to the squad having missed out in March.

Ireland face Croatia on Saturday, June 6 before taking on Qatar Under-23s on Tuesday, June 9.

It will be the final preparation for Crawford’s side before the final run-in of the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifier campaign.

Ireland Men’s Under-21s Squad

Goalkeepers: Noah Jauny (Stade Brestois), Aaron Maguire (Tottenham Hotspur), Conor Walsh (Shelbourne).

Defenders: Sam Curtis (Sheffield United), Oisin Gallagher (Lincoln City), Sean Grehan (Doncaster Rovers), Sean Keogh (Brighton & Hove Albion), Conor McManus (Brentford), Cory O’Sullivan (Shamrock Rovers), David Okagbue (Peterborough United).

Midfielders: Jacob Devaney (Manchester United), Rory Finneran (Newcastle United), Gabriel Kelly (Stoke City), Darius Lipsiuc (Stoke City), Jamie Mullins (Wycombe Wanderers), Cillian Murphy (Cork City), John O’Sullivan (Shamrock Rovers), Naj Razi (Shamrock Rovers), Harry Vaughan (Bohemians, on loan from Hull City).

Forwards: Gbemi Arubi (Dundalk), Tommy Lonergan (Waterford), Kian McMahon Brown (Burnley), Michael Noonan (Shamrock Rovers).

International Friendly Fixtures

(kick-offs are Irish time)

Saturday, June 6

Croatia U21 vs Ireland U21

Gradski Stadion, Vrbovec, Zagreb, KO 16.30

Tuesday, June 9

Ireland U21 vs Qatar U23

Gradski Stadion, Vrbovec, Zagreb, KO 15.45.