Gerard HanleyGoalkeeper - Galway United FC
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| U19 caps 2008/9 season: 2. |
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Played in every minute of the UEFA qualifiers and finals for the Under-17s last season and acquitted himself admirably throughout. Ger hails from Galway, where he plays for League of Ireland Premier Division side Galway United. |
Kieron Thorp
Goalkeeper - Unattached
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| U19 caps 2008/9 season: 2. |
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Hails from Crawley in Sussex and qualifies for Ireland through his father, who was born in Ballina, County Mayo. Established himself as Ireland's first choice-keeper during the 2005/6 season with of a string of good displays at U16 level and has been prominent since. |
Gavin Gunning
Defender - Blackburn Rovers
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| U19 caps 2008/9 season: 2. |
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Gavin is a stylish defender with tremendous aerial ability, as evidenced by his headed goals against Ukraine, Greece and Portugal during last season's Under-17 UEFA qualifying series. He his first professional contract at Blackburn Rovers last season and is highly regarded at Ewood Park. |
Niall Walsh
Defender - Galway United FC
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| U19 caps 2008/9 season: 1 |
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Full-back Niall was part of a successful Castlebar Celtic schoolboys' team which also featured current Irish Youth International David Joyce. He showed his potential with a solid display for the Irish Under-18s against Malta in April. He now plays for League of Ireland side Galway United. |
Lanre Oyebanjo
Defender - Histon FC
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| U19 caps 2008/9 season: 3. |
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Earned his maiden call-up to the Irish squad shortly after joining English Conference side Histon from Brentford in July. Qualifies through his Dublin-born mother. His club coach John Beck foresees him gaining plenty of first-team exposure with the ‘Stutes' this season and he has been a regular in the team since the campaign began. |
Laurence Gaughan
Defender - Celtic
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| U19 caps 2008/9 season: 0. |
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Laurence qualifies for Ireland through his Ballina-born grandparents. Received his first call-up for the UEFA 1st phase qualifiers in Azerbaijan two seasons ago and performed well. Switched from Liverpool FC to his boy-hood idols Celtic last season. Was forced to pull out of the Midlands tournament in August due to injury. |
Niall McArdle
Defender - Unattached
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| U19 caps 2008/9 season: 2. |
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Niall comes from Malahide in Dublin and is a tall, left-footed defender who played in four U16 Internationals during the 2005/6 season. Signed for Sunderland in the summer of 2006 and has since became a regular in their reserve team. Was developed at the famous Home Farm club in Whitehall, where he played alongside International colleagues Ian Daly and Eric Foley. |
Callum Morris
Defender - Newcastle United
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| U19 caps 2008/9 season: 3. |
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This is Callum's debut call-up to the Irish squad having recently declared through his Waterford connections. He is a powerful, tough tackling centre-back who has featured for the Magpies reserve team in the past two seasons. |
Danny Kelly
Defender - Norwich City
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| U19 caps 2008/9 season: 3. |
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The English-born centre-back was drafted into the Under-17 squad for the UEFA Elite qualifiers in Germany in March 2007 and played against Germany at Under-18 level last season.
One of a number of young Irish players at Norwich City, Danny qualifies for Ireland through his Dublin-born father. |
Damian McCrory
Midfielder - Plymouth Argyle
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| U19 caps 2008/9 season: 3. |
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The talented Limerick lad has just signed professional terms with Championship club Plymouth after impressing for the Youth Academy.
Made rapid progress in the Pilgrims' first-team during the pre-season tour of Austria, scoring against German side Greuther Furth. Damian was capped last season at U18 level. |
Conor Clifford
Midfielder - Chelsea
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| U19 caps 2008/9 season: 3 |
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Conor is a gifted midfielder with an array of passing abilities within his armoury. He is the reigning FAI/eircom Under-16 player of the year following his displays in the Green jersey last season and graduated to the Under-19s despite being still only 16 years old. |
Gearoid Morrissey
Midfielder - Blackburn Rovers
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| U19 caps 2008/9 season: 0 |
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Another 16-year old who was part of the Irish Under-17 team that reached the UEFA finals in May. A powerful and intelligent player, the Cork lad joined Blackburn Rovers in the summer. Gearoid had to withdraw from the squad for the August friendlies due to injury. |
Conor Henderson
Midfielder - Arsenal
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| U19 caps 2008/9 season: 3. |
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An inventive player, London-born Conor was part of the Irish Under-16 squad which won the Ballymena tournament in April 2007. He played in all three matches for Ireland at the Midlands tournament in August 2008.
Highly-rated at Arsenal, he captained the club's Under-16 team last season. |
Darragh McNamara
Midfielder - Drogheda United
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| U19 caps 2008/9 season: 3 |
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Kells native Darragh recently signed a professional contract for Drogheda United but only after he had lined out for his native Meath in this year's Leinster Championship.
Darragh's qualities have been evident in Youth football for the past couple of seasons and the play-maker is set for a good career in the game. |
James O'Brien
Midfielder - Unattached
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| U19 caps 2008/9 season: 2 |
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James captained his country at U16 and U17 levels, winning the eircom player of the year in 2007, but cruelly missed out on the UEFA Elite qualifiers two seasons ago because of injury. Linked up with Birmingham City after leaving Dublin club Cherry Orchard. |
Jamie Devitt
Midfielder - Hull City
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| U19 caps 2008/9 season: 3 |
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The ex-Cherry Orchard youngster enjoyed a magnificent 2007/8 season for promoted Hull City, concluding the campaign by being voted the supporters club ‘young player of the year'.
Was handed the number 36 squad shirt by first-team manager Phil Brown at the start of this season and is expected to have another positive year for club and country. |
Ian Daly
Striker - Aris Salonica (Greece) |
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| U19 caps 2008/9 season: 2 |
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Ian was the team's main marksman at U15, U16 and U17 levels. A tall and very skilful player - possessing quick feet - he holds the rare ability to combine his game in the air and on the ground. He left Home Farm to join Manchester City in July 2006 and was part of their squad which won the FA Youth Cup in 2008. |
Kurtis Byrne
Striker - Hibernian
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| U19 caps 2008/9 season: 2 |
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Kurtis is a natural goal-scorer, who can find goals from outside as well as inside of the penalty area.
After moving initially to to Norwich City, he transferred to Scottish Premier League club Hibernian, where he moved into the first-team fray in pre-season. Kurtis is the son of former Glasgow Celtic player, Paul Byrne. |
Michael Collins
Striker - Unattached
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| U19 caps 2008/9 season: 3 |
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Michael comes from a well known football family with uncles Eamon and David having played professional football in England. A clever ball player, he can play wide on either flank but is best in a central attacking role.
Took the opportunity of moving to Italy from Liverpool FC this summer when Serie B club Triestina came calling with a contract offer. |
Patrick Madden
Striker - Bohemians
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| U19 caps 2008/9 season: 3 |
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The former WFTA front-man first made his mark while playing for the FAI Development squad in their triumphant Lille tournament campaign last season.
Scored the winner for the Irish Under-18 team against Malta from the penalty spot in April and also represented the Irish Schools team. |
Paul Murphy
Striker - Ipswich Town
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| U19 caps 2008/9 season: 2 |
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Wexford lad Paul was a pivotal player to the Irish Under-17 team last season with his vision and scored in the finals against France. The former Wexford Albion attacker also played for Dublin clubs Home Farm and Crumlin United before switching to Ipswich Town. |
Shane O'Connor
Midfielder / Striker - Unattached
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| U19 caps 2008/9 season: 2 |
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Cork native Shane emerged on the International scene during the 2005/6 season, playing mostly on the left-flank, and then operated in midfield the following year for the U17 UEFA qualifying campaign. Moved to Liverpool two seasons ago at the same time his compatriot Michael Collins signed. |
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