Liverpool youngster Trent Kone-Doherty is keen for more opportunities with the Republic of Ireland Under-21s after playing a key role in helping Jim Crawford's side to edge past Andorra on Tuesday.
On a night overshadowed by a disappointing defeat for the senior side in Armenia during the World Cup qualifiers, their Under-21 counterparts were looking to make it two wins from two in European Championship qualifying at Tallaght Stadium.
But they found traditional minnows Andorra a tough nut to crack. That was until Derry native Kone-Doherty and fellow sub, Shamrock Rovers' 17-year-old striker Michael Noonan, combined for the latter to score the only goal of the game on 66 minute.
The match was Kone-Doherty's first at the under-21 grade for Ireland and speaking to RTÉ Sport's Joanne Cantwell and Alan Cawley at full-time, the ex-Derry City man said he relished the opportunity to try and catch manager Crawford's eye.
"We've been training hard all week and we obviously got good minutes today, so we just wanted to try and show that we can be a part of the team for the rest of the campaign because there's still a long way to go," he said.
"I want to show the manager anytime I get the chance to get minutes, I want to show him that I want to be playing.
"Obviously the coach will make his decisions so if I'm not playing then when I come on, I'm just going to try and make an impact, and obviously we got the win today and me and Michael made out impact."
Trent Kone-Doherty played his part in setting up Michael Noonan for Ireland's winner against Andorra in the #U21 Euro qualifier, with the Derry native and Liverpool player determined to make an impact #rtesport #rtesport pic.twitter.com/oHaQmbHCPg
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 9, 2025
The assist for Noonan's goal owed much to Kone-Doherty's directness on the break before he laid it off for his fellow teenager.
"I'd seen the ball come up and I thought I can counter so I just started going with the ball and then I tried to cut in a bit and used the outside of my foot and Michael's took it out and what a finish," he said.
65 mins: Ireland 1-0 Andorra
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 9, 2025
He was just on the pitch but a superb strike from Michael Noonan gives Ireland the lead in this #U21 Euro qualifier #rtesport @IrelandFootball pic.twitter.com/CbSZmvqX9m
The 19-year-old has been on the books at Liverpool since signing for the Premier League club from hometown Derry in 2022, going on to sign a professional contract at Anfield the following October.
Usually featuring for the Reds' underage and reserve teams, Kone-Doherty did make his senior debut for the club in a shock FA Cup defeat to Plymouth last season.
But he has also had opportunities to train with Arne Slot's side more regularly, something which he said he has relished.
"Some of the best players in the world so anytime I get to train or if the manager trusts me to get minutes, I'll believe in myself and obviously it's the best team in the world so can't complain," he said.
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