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League of Ireland trio handed first Irish U21 call-ups

Cory O'Sullivan of Shamrock Rovers has been called into the Ireland U21 squad
Cory O'Sullivan of Shamrock Rovers has been called into the Ireland U21 squad

Ireland Under-21s head coach Jim Crawford has given three League of Ireland players their first call-ups for friendlies against Croatia and Qatar next month.

Crawford could hand first caps to Cork City midfielder Cathal O’Sullivan, Shamrock Rovers’ defender Cory O’Sullivan and Drogheda United forward Warren Davis.

Manchester United midfielder Jacob Devaney and Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Killian Barrett are also selected for the U-21s for the first time.

Crawford's side travel to Zagreb for their final preparations before the start of the European Championship Qualifiers in September.

They face Croatia on Friday, 6 June before taking on Qatar Under-23s on Tuesday, 10 June.

Sheffield United's Sam Curtis, who has recently been on loan to St Johnstone, returns to the squad, as does former Drogheda United and current Stockport County goalkeeper Andrew Wogan.

Looking ahead to the double-header, 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. We saw that in particular in the last game against Hungary [a 3-1 win] and we’ll be looking to build on that."

Republic of Ireland Under-21s Squad

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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