Finneran and Devaney named in Crawford's Ireland under-21 squad

Rory Finneran of Republic of Ireland during a friendly match. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Republic of Ireland under-21s boss Jim Crawford has named his squad for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifiers against Slovakia, Kazakhstan and England.

Senior international caps Adam Brennan and Rory Finneran are named in the squad of 22, while there are first-time call-ups for Nottingham Forest’s Grady McDonnell and Celtic’s Marcus Gill. 

There is also a return to squad for former Wexford goalkeeper Owen Mason, now with Bromley.

SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division top scorer Tommy Lonergan is rewarded for his form with a place in the squad, as is in-form Hibernian midfielder Jacob Devaney (on-loan from Manchester United).

Crawford’s team face Slovakia in Koisce on Friday, September 25, before returning to Cork for a double-header in the Munster FA Turners Cross Stadium. 

They’ll take on Kazakhstan on Tuesday, September 29 before the visit of England a week later on Tuesday, October 6.

Republic of Ireland Men’s Under-21 Squad 

Goalkeepers: Noah Jauny (Royal Francs Borains), Marcus Gill (Celtic), Owen Mason (Bromley).

Defenders: Sam Curtis (Cambridge United, on loan from Sheffield United), Seán Grehan (Doncaster Rovers), Cathal McCarthy (Kilmarnock, on loan from Hull City), Conor McManus (Gillingham), Alex Murphy (1. FC Kaiserslautern, on loan from Newcastle United), David Okagbue (Peterborough United).

Midfielders: Romeo Akachukwu (Southampton), Adam Brennan (Shamrock Rovers), Jacob Devaney (Hibernian, on loan from Manchester United), Rory Finneran (Notts County, on loan from Newcastle United), Darius Lipsiuc (Notts County), Oísin Gallagher (Barnet, on loan from Lincoln City), Grady McDonnell (Nottingham Forest), Jamie Mullins (Wycombe Wanderers).

Forwards: Leon Ayinde (Doncaster Rovers), Trent Kone-Doherty (Molde FK), Tommy Lonergan (Waterford), Kian McMahon Brown (Shrewsbury Town, on loan from Burnley), Michael Noonan (Shamrock Rovers).