Two Man Utd prospects in Ireland U21 squad as Shamrock Rvs teen gets first call
Jim Crawford has handed a first Under-21 call-up to Manchester United midfielder Jacob Devaney.
The Red Devils skipper at Under-18s level has featured for Ireland's Under-19s - but this is his first time moving up to this age group.
He will join clubmate Jack Moorhouse, who has featured in a handful of senior United squads this season - making the bench in both Europa League legs against Lyon, as well as against Arsenal and Tottenham in the Premier League.
Also in the squad for the first time is 19-year-old Shamrock Rovers defender Cory O'Sullivan. He has been rewarded for his impressive display so far in 13 Premier Division appearances for the Hoops.
Crawford has drafted in Drogheda United forward Warren Davis. The 20-year-old had six Premier Division goals to his name so far this season.
Completing a trio of League of Ireland debut calls is Cork City's Cathal O'Sullivan.
Ireland will head to Zagreb for the two games, which will serve as final preparation ahead of the European qualifiers, which begin in September. They will take on hosts Croatia on June 6 (4pm Irish) and Qatar four days later (5pm).
Crawford said: 'These two games will be huge in terms of the preparation for the European Championships Qualifiers and we look forward to testing ourselves against quality opposition.
'Croatia have long had great pedigree in their youth teams and as for Qatar they are an emerging team in international football and will be a challenge.
'This is a young squad, we've nine players still in their teens but the majority of those nine are playing first-team football or around the first-team environment.
'It's important we look at all options available to us, to put us in the best shape come September. We've had some solid performances already as a group and we saw that in particular in the last game against Hungary and we'll be looking to build on that.'
Goalkeepers: Killian Barrett (Sheffield Wednesday), Noah Jauny (Stade Brestois), Aaron Maguire (Tottenham Hotspur), Andrew Wogan (Stockport County)
Defenders: Sam Curtis (Sheffield United), Sean Grehan (Bohemians, on loan from Crystal Palace), Alex Murphy (Newcastle United), Cory O'Sullivan (Shamrock Rovers), David Okagbue (Walsall), Gabriel Otegbayo (Sheffield Wednesday), Jacob Slater (Brighton & Hove Albion),
Midfielders: Jacob Devaney (Manchester United), Darius Lipsiuc (Walsall, on loan from Stoke City), Jack Moorhouse (Manchester United), Jamie Mullins (Brighton & Hove Albion), Adam Murphy (Bristol City), Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh (Southampton), Cathal O'Sullivan (Cork City), Harry Vaughan (Hull City)
Forwards: Warren Davis (Drogheda United), Joe Gardner (Nottingham Forest), Jad Hakiki (Sligo Rovers), Mason Melia (St. Patrick's Athletic), Mark O'Mahony (Brighton & Hove Albion).
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The 42
41 minutes ago
- The 42
No scrum, no win: Leinster set to lock horns with the Bulls
ITALIAN REFEREE ANDREA Piardi will have lots of big decisions to make in the URC final on Saturday evening at Croke Park. And it's likely that some of his most demanding calls will come at scrum time. South African sides have long been respected for their aggressive, powerful, technically strong scrummaging. The Bulls are of that ilk. And over the last two seasons in particular, Leinster have also emerged as a pack who want to scrummage for penalties. In the past, some Irish sides have primarily seen the scrum as a platform to play off, but that mindset has shifted in Leinster. Piardi saw more evidence of that last weekend as he refereed their semi-final win over Glasgow, awarding several scrum penalties in Leinster's favour. 'It's something that had frustrated us over the last couple of weeks,' says Leinster hooker Dan Sheehan. 'Playing against Scarlets [in the quarter-final] in particular, we were told when the ball was at the back just to play it, [even] when we were going forward and it was collapsing. 'I think it has definitely been part of our DNA over the last year or two that we want to be scrumming for penalties, getting access [into the opposition 22] that way and playing off the back of a going-forward scrum. 'Obviously, the Bulls have their own threat. They have the best scrum in the league stats-wise, which is what I was told next door… by a South African. 'But that's their rugby. I'm sure they will have a plan to disrupt our scrum and try and get over the top of us and we'll do similar and bring energy to the scrum. I look forward to the battle on Saturday.' Advertisement Leinster's scrum has been more aggressive in the last two years. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO Whichever South African told Sheehan about the scrum stats was right. Data from Oval Insights shows that the Bulls and Leinster are the two best teams in the URC at winning scrum penalties. The Bulls have won 62 scrum penalties this season and Leinster have won 54. But the South African side have conceded significantly fewer scrum penalties – 20 to Leinster's 35. That rate of scrum penalty concessions won't surprise Leinster fans who have watched their pack rather relentlessly go after success in that area. The flip side of being so aggressive is that refereeing decisions can go against you. But play it safe and there is never any reward. Leinster had a good day at the scrum last weekend against Glasgow as tighthead Thomas Clarkson found favour with referee Piardi, so they'll be hoping for more of the same this weekend. Tadhg Furlong remains on the comeback trail, so Clarkson and Rabah Slimani look set to go again as Leinster's tighthead duo, while Sheehan and Rónan Kelleher will be the hookers. It remains to be seen how Leinster configure their starting pack, with Slimani and Kelleher's scrummaging qualities surely tempting. Key man Andrew Porter will start again at loosehead unless Leinster decide to go with the tactic of bringing him off the bench during the first half. Jack Boyle backed Porter up last weekend and could do so again, even if Cian Healy is bidding farewell to Leinster after this game. Leinster scrum specialist Robin McBryde will hope his charges can earn set-piece momentum for their team in this URC decider. Bulls scrum coach Werner Kruger – who previously played for the Bulls, Scarlets, and South Africa – has some serious firepower to work with. Leinster have felt the force of the Bulls on several occasions in recent years, while the Sharks were on the receiving end in last weekend's semi-final. Heavyweight Springboks tighthead Wilco Louw is backed up by the assertive Mornay Smith, that duo providing plenty of power on the right-hand side of the Bulls front row. Loosehead prop Jan-Hendrick Wessels has been one of the most impressive Bulls this season. He made his Boks debut last year and still covers hooker, making two starts there in this URC campaign. The Bulls can call on the dynamism of Alulutho Tshakweni or Simphiwe Matanzima off the bench. Italian referee Andrea Piardi will be in charge for the final. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO Johan Grobbelaar is a consistent operator at hooker, where he competes with the more experienced Akker van der Merwe, who has been capped by the Boks. All in all, it's a serious front row unit and the Bulls have a huge scrummaging culture that every forward buys into. Bulls flankers don't tend to hang off scrums; their shoulders are to the wheel. The physical challenge will be similar at the lineout, maul, ruck, and in every carry and tackle. More than anything, Leinster believe that his final is about fronting up. 'I think everything comes off the back of physicality,' says Sheehan. 'You can have the best game plan in the world and it won't go well if your physicality is not right. 'Whereas if you have a poor game plan and get your physicality right, a lot of the time it works.' And Leinster know the Bulls will be honing in on this element of the URC decider. 'You have to brave and put yourself in front of these big fellas,' says Sheehan. 'They'll try to test you. They'll push buttons. It's chat after the ball goes out, it's rubbing your head in the dirt. But you know, you get that on both sides of the ball and I think people enjoy it. I think fans enjoy it. 'I think when you get it right, it's incredibly rewarding to get a win over a South African team. We've experienced that over the years, so I think it's a good battle and it's a good spectacle and I hope there's good excitement building through the week and we get a good crowd there. I think it will be a good game on Saturday.'
Irish Daily Mirror
43 minutes ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Jake White says the numbers, including those of Bloody Sunday, are with Bulls
Former Springbok Cornal Hendricks was a living legend during his years at Bulls, 2019-24. But following his tragic death two months back he has become a symbol of unity and diversity, the club going as far as retiring his no14 jersey. Bulls right-wingers wear no23 in games. Given Hendricks died on May 14th and the URC final is being played on June 14th, wily Bulls coach Jake White was quick to make another for it... "Funny enough, I was doing a bit of homework about Croke Park and I read that Bloody Sunday, 14 people died there," said White becoming the first person in our storied history to co-opt Irish 'war' dead for use, on site, against us. "Cornal died on the 14th of May and we play the URC final on Saturday 14th of June. It's quite an ominous number so there is a lot of nice memories of Cornal that we will use and the number 14. Hopefully it will be a fantastic day on the 14th off June for us as a club as well. It's quite amazing that the number 14 keeps coming up. Stars are aligned. Hopefully we will use that in our favour.' Written in the Stars? There is no 14th sign of the Zodiac (indeed whether there is even a 13th sign is long-contested) but White is not going to pass up Bloody Sunday once it has been coughed up in his lap. 'There is a lot of relevance, the number 14 not being used this weekend. Sometimes you need that. "You guys are from Ireland and look what Munster did in the time that they lost their coach (Anthony Foley, RIP 2016) and how quickly the reason why just turned the way Munster became for that year. 'A lot of these boys weren't around probably (when Croke Park was opened to rugby) and haven't understood what the significance of Croke Park means in history. "And to be fair, if I am being really honest, I told them not to comment or to be sucked in to anything that would lead anyone to read it the wrong way. 'Everyone has a feeling about it and for us the fact that it is the 14th if the month, that when I read it was 14 people that died I thought, jeez, it was quite spooky, you know? Cornel dies on the 14th of May. I think his son was born on the 14th of December." Munster would make the final of the PRO12 in 2016/17 but lost to Scarlets at Thomond Park and, earning a home Champions Cup semi-final, lose to Saracens. Moreover White isn't for kow-towing to idea Leinster have all the aces available in the rugby deck and scoffed at fellow South African and current Glasgow Warriors coach Franco Smith suggesting Leinster, with their Academy and their pathways, were 'eight years ahead of rest of URC…'. Ever the iconoclast (someone who questions or opposses generally accepted beliefs) White asked: 'How come they are eight years ahead of them (Glasgow) now? Last year they weren't next to them. "Look, they are years ahead, lets not kid ourselves, I hear 13 British Lions and 12 guys going on the Irish tour this summer plus three internationals if you look at Barrett, Slimani and RG Snyman and then you have guys like Ross Byrne and Luke McGrath that weren't picked. 'That's 30 guys in their squad, They probably have more Irish international caps than we have URC games under our belt ao that's the significant point. "I don't know why Franco would say that. I don't know how he gets to eight years but I will tell you something there is no doubt that Leinster are the benchmark of what I do and how I prepare, and the benchmark of what's happened at this Club." White points out there are three former Springbok coaches currently with the Bulls but that Leinster comes from generations of 'international' coaches: "Myself (2004-07 and RWC 2007 winner), John Williams (1992-93) and Heyneke Meyer (2012-15) are here now and have been South Africa coaches. 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The Journal
an hour ago
- The Journal
Ireland round out the season with dreary draw away to Luxembourg
The 42 Luxembourg 0 Republic of Ireland 0 THIS BORE, END-OF-SEASON draw was just about the most passive mutual offering from Ireland and Luxembourg since they designed their respective tax regimes. Acknowledging that June friendlies are hardly havens for confidence or rich feeling, Ireland were desperately poor in the first-half, with their passing ragged and their energy levels low. They were much better after half-time, though, and were unfortunate not to grab a late winner when substitute Jack Taylor smashed a shot off the underside of the crossbar. They ultimately had to settle for a goalless draw, one which extends their unbeaten run to four games and does not seriously check their momentum going into September's World Cup qualifying campaign. Ireland, though, will have to play much better than this if they are to take enough points from the opening games against Hungary and Armenia to maintain an active interest in qualifying through to the final games in November. Heimir Hallgrimsson decided to reward the oft-travelling, rarely-seen Max O'Leary with a first Irish start, giving Caoimhín Kelleher a break. Jake O'Brien replaced Matt Doherty at right-back with Killian Phillips making his full senior debut in midfield, with Ryan Manning benched. Evan Ferguson – whose sharpness in training had impressed his manager – earned a start having come close to doing so on Friday, while Troy Parrott returned to lead the line. Ireland's shape was that to which we have become accustomed: a 4-4-2 without the ball that morphed into a fancier, 3-4-2-1 with the ball. Phillips dropped into deep midfield alongside Jason Knight with Will Smallbone freed up to play further forward. Among Ireland's first-half problems: their evolving formation got stuck in its larval, two-banks-of-four phase, such was Luxembourg's dominance of the ball. O'Leary was sharp to dive to his left to push Danel Sinani's long-range shot around the post, a move whose genesis was a clumsy lay-off by Ferguson to Phillips. Hallgrimsson, growing increasingly frustrated, swapped Phillips and Smallbone's positions. That move was tantamount to tinkering around a crash site. Ireland's passing was awful, with players remonstrating with one another as moves continually broke down. An ugly problem from Ireland's last few years also reared its head, with Knight, Phillips and Smallbone looking rushed and uncomfortable when they were pressed in midfield by their opposite number. Troy Parrott contributed Ireland's best moment from open play shortly before half-time, when he controlled the ball and spun away from his aggressive marker, Eldin Džogović, who responded by kicking him in the calf. It was a rare moment of conviction from any Irish player. Smallbone floated the resultant free-kick to Dara O'Shea at the back post, whose square header was met by Nathan Collins, who stooped and headed the ball against the post. Ireland mercifully improved after half-time. Kasey McAteer hinted at the severity of the half-time message by quickly closing down and opponent to rob possession and then pull a left-footed shot wide of the far post. Advertisement McAteer should have remained so single-minded a few minutes later, but rather than go for goal himself, he instead directed a free header from Ryan Manning's terrific deep cross back across goal for Parrott, who handled the ball amid a miscued effort to try and force the ball over the line. Jack Taylor and Festy Ebosele were sprung from the bench within 10 minutes of the restart and both combined for another chance, only for Taylor to pull a shot wide having been smartly picked out by Ebosele on the edge of the box. Ireland finally managed an effort on target shortly after, as Parrott ran in behind to collect McAteer's pass before lifting the ball delightfully over the onrushing goalkeeper. Parrott, alas, was too eager in making his run and had strayed offside. McAteer, now shifted to an inside-left role as opposed to standing out on the right wing, grew far more influential, but was also guilty of over-enthusiasm in taking an over-the-shoulder volley too early having been picked out by a ball over the top. His shot was tame and easy for Luxembourg's teenage goalkeeper. But alas as many of the Irish players improved around him, Evan Ferguson visibly waned; his lack of match minutes across the season becoming painfully evident. He was caught too often on his heels, most gallingly when Dara O'Shea played a risky pass through midfield that was intended for Ferguson, but intercepted by the much more alert Tomas Moreira, whom Ferguson pursued and then fouled. He was booked, and eventually withdrawn for Adam Idah with 15 minutes remaining. Taylor came agonisingly close to winning the game as the clock ticked out. First Parrott wriggled brilliantly along the endline to pull the ball back for Idah, whose heavy touch ended with the ball running out to Taylor on the edge of the box, who smashed a shot off the underside of the crossbar John Patrick came off the bench for a late senior debut, and showed some very neat touches, most obviously on the edge of his own box after Matt Doherty recovered brilliantly to snuff out a late Luxembourg counter. The Spanish-born midfielder will be among a handful of people on earth to remember this game. While Ireland will have to be vastly improved in September, the context of this game is enough to avoid ringing any alarm bells. Already without the bulk of their Championship contingent, the squad were carrying an accumulated fatigue that will not exist in three months' time. This season, after all, has been long and, er, taxing. Luxembourg: Tiago Pereira; Eldin Džogović, Laurent Jans (Michael Pinto, 62′), Seid Korac, Dirk Carlson; Leandro Barreiro, Tomas Moreira, Danel Sinani; Florian Bohnert (Vincent Thill, 62′) , Gerson Rodrigues (Eric Veiga, 82′), Aiman Dardari (Alessio Curci, 76′) Republic of Ireland: Max O'Leary; Jake O'Brien, Nathan Collins (captain), Dara O'Shea, Robbie Brady (Ryan Manning, 20′); Kasey McAteer (Matt Doherty, 75′), Jason Knight (John Patrick,90′), Will Smallbone (Jack Taylor, 55′), Killian Phillips (Festy Ebosele, 55′); Evan Ferguson (Adam Idah, 75′), Troy Parrott Referee: Stefan Ebner (Austria) Written by Gavin Cooney and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won't find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women's sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here .
