Jim Crawford’s Ireland Under-21s team will kick-off their first game of 2025 when they take on Scotland in Murcia, Spain this evening.

The young Boys in Green have been training in south east Spain all week ahead of a friendly against their neighbours before they turn their attention to face Hungary on Monday evening.

The games will serve as an opportunity for Crawford to assess his squad as they build up the Under-21 European Championship qualifiers in September.

Match Details

Ireland U21 v Scotland U21

International Friendly

Friday, March 21

Pinatar Arena, Murcia

Kick-off 8pm (local time) / 7pm Irish time

Match coverage

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Quotes

Ireland Under-21 Head Coach Jim Crawford said: “I’m just excited about the campaign ahead. It was a bitter blow [the last campaign]. A hell of a lot of work went into that campaign but we just fell short. But there were so many positive that came from it and the by-product of that is you’re looking at the senior team with James Abankwah and Rocco Vata who were part of the last campaign. That’s ultimately what we want to do is provide a conveyor belt of players who have progressed on the international stage and experienced big games.

“It’s a fresh page with this new group, we’re still learning about them and they’re learning about us, which is to be expected at this stage, but I’m excited about them. They’re a really good group who have worked exceptionally hard.

“We have to take the next step. It’s great getting to play-off games or going to the last game against an Italy and having them on the back foot. But really you want to be getting to the finals, because that is the ultimate experience. It’s a fantastic experience being competitive in groups , and it certainly helps the players, but to get to the finals would be the cherry on top of the cake, so to speak.”

Ireland Under-21 defender Sean Grehan said: “It is such a great feeling to represent Ireland, one of the best feelings I have ever had. You never really take it for granted, it is one of the best things you can do. I remember the Germany game in 2015, I was at the Aviva that night with my dad and those moments really motivate you to go out and play in those sorts of games.

“I was lucky enough to be part of the group last year and we came so close. We really want to qualify this time. We will do everything we can. We will need these games to get used to each other and get to know one another. We hope to do really well in the campaign and push on and go one step further.

“It is fine margins that let us down the last time. We had some really good performances and good results. If we tidy up on them in this forthcoming campaign, we have a really good chance of qualifying. It is a tough group with England but we will fancy our chances against anyone.

“We could do with that bit of luck which did not go our way.”

Ticket details
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Republic of Ireland Under-21 Squad 

Goalkeepers: Noah Jauny (Stade Brestois), Aaron Maguire (Tottenham Hotspur), Conor Walsh (Sligo Rovers)

Defenders: Connor Barratt (Barnsley), Sean Grehan (Bohemians, on loan from Crystal Palace), Conor McManus (Brentford), Alex Murphy (Bolton Wanderers, on loan from Newcastle United), Connor O’Brien (Accrington Stanley), David Okagbue (Walsall), Gabriel Otegbayo (Sheffield Wednesday), Jacob Slater (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Midfielders: Darius Lipsiuc (Walsall, on loan from Stoke City), Ronan Maher (Tamworth, on loan from Walsall), Jack Moorhouse (Manchester United), Jamie Mullins (Brighton & Hove Albion), Adam Murphy (Bristol City), Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh (Accrington Stanley, on loan from Southampton)

Forwards: Joe Gardner (Lincoln City, on loan from Nottingham Forest), Jad Hakiki (Sligo Rovers), Mason Melia (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Mark O’Mahony (Portsmouth, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion), Franco Umeh (Crystal Palace), Harry Vaughan (Hull City)