Ireland Under-18 manager Noel O'Reilly is wary of the threat of hosts Italy in today's opening European Olympic Tournament match in Lignano, Sabbiadoro. O'Reilly, who was coach to the Brian Kerr squad that beat hosts Spain in the 2001 final, believes it is a key match.
"There are just three teams in our group including Finland who we meet tomorrow and the Italians are a full professional outfit. But we have prepared well and we will be confident," he said. "Because we are in a three-nation group there is very little margin for error and it is vital that we get something out of today's game with Italy," he added.
O'Reilly has named a 16 man squad for the six nation tournament with all of the players in the panel playing their soccer in Ireland. This evening's game has a 7.00pm kick-off, Irish time.
Irish European Olympic Squad:
Ferry (Derry City), Judge (St Joseph's), O'Shea (Tramore), Power (Crumlin), O'Connor (Lakewood), O'Sullivan (Belvedere), Rooney (Crumlin), Bonner (Keadue), Daly (College Cors), Dennehy (Kerry Schools), Downes (Tolka Rovers), Byrne (Crumlin), McArdle (Shelbourne), Connellan (Belvedere), Doyle (Crumlin), Douglas (St Joseph's).
