UEFA UNDER-21 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING
Republic of Ireland Under-21s v Slovakia Under-21s, Turner's Cross, 7pm.
ONLINE
Live blog, match report and reaction on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app.
TV
Live coverage starts at 7pm on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player.
WEATHER
A dry evening in Cork which is welcome after some tough conditions last week around Storm Amy. Temperatures will be about nine degrees.
STATE OF PLAY
Ireland have recorded two wins in their opening qualifying games against Moldova and Andorra.
If being honest, it hasn't been overly impressive from Jim Crawford's side.
In the first match in Moldova, Ireland had to show real character to come from behind. Mason Melia scored a double in Nisperoni.
Mason Melia does have his second!
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 4, 2025
Brilliant work by Harry Vaughan and it's another close-range finish from the St Pat’s man.
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The home clash with Andorra was expected to be a comfortable night.
It needed substitute Michael Noonan to produce a moment of magic with Ireland frustrated prior to that moment.
Noonan became Republic of Ireland's youngest scorer in doing so and with his form at club level strong, he is pushing for a start tonight.
Crawford's side have done well to work their way out of two tough situations.
Now they face a real step up as leaders Slovakia come to Cork. Ireland play just one match in this window. The hardest game is to come in November away to England in Birmingham.
QUALIFICATION FORMAT
The nine group winners and the best runner-up, discounting results against the sixth-placed team which is likely to be Andorra, will progress to the tournament in Albania and Serbia.
The other eight runners-up will go through to a play-off. Two legs will be played for four teams to advance.
Given the strength of the English side, Ireland's realistic hopes of qualifying is being a best runner-up or through the play-off.
Slovakia could be seen as the main challenger for that position, so tonight's game is hugely important.
CHANGES TO SQUAD
It's three in and out for Ireland, although it's unlikely those alterations will have a major impact on the starting XI.
Crawford has given maiden call-ups to James McManus of Sligo Rovers and former Cork City academy player Leon Ayinde of Ipswich Town.
McManus' team-mate at Sligo, Conor Walsh, returns to the squad. Freddie Turley, Harry Vaughan and Cian Dillon miss out.
Goalkeepers: Noah Jauny (Stade Brestois), Aaron Maguire (Tottenham Hotspur), Conor Walsh (Sligo Rovers)
Defenders: James Abankwah (Watford), Jacob Devaney (Manchester United), Sean Grehan (Doncaster Rovers), Alex Murphy (Newcastle United), David Okagbue (Peterborough United), Jacob Slater (Harrogate United, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion).
Midfielders: Romeo Akachukwu (Southampton), Darius Lipsiuc (Solihull Moors, on loan from Stoke City), Jad Hakiki (Sligo Rovers), Cathal McCarthy (Hull City), James McManus (Sligo Rovers, on loan from Bohemians), Jamie Mullins (Wycombe Wanderers), Adam Murphy (Swindon Town, on loan from Bristol City).
Forwards: Leon Ayinde (Ipswich Town), Trent Kone-Doherty (Liverpool), Mason Melia (St. Patrick's Athletic), Michael Noonan (Shamrock Rovers), Mark O’Mahony (Reading, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion), Rocco Vata (Watford).
FORM PLAYERS
Ireland continue to have strong options in attack. Melia has been outstanding for St Patrick's Athletic and should start. Rocco Vata scored his first goal of the season for Watford in the Championship, while Noonan's performance in the FAI Cup semi-final for Shamrock Rovers yielded two classy finishes.
Liverpool's Tren Kone-Doherty also made a real impact off the bench against Andorra. The only issue for Crawford is who to select.
Jad Hakiki didn't have his best night in the last match, yet his form for club Sligo Rovers and his experience in the group should see him retain a place.
Crawford chose Cathal McCarthy, Jamie Mullins, Harry Vaughan for the previous game and it will be interesting to see if he opts to go with something different against a stronger opponent.
WHAT THEY SAID
Jim Crawford is hoping his side rise to the occasion. There has been plenty of turnover from the last campaign.
He said: "With U21s football, it's a new cycle of players, so it's about them tasting the atmosphere, the excitement in the crowd, and I've no doubt that the group of players we have will revel in that.
"These are the games that you need to use as a barometer of where we are at this particular stage of the campaign, so we're looking forward to it.
"It's going to be a testing game, there's going to be times in the game where concentration levels are going to have to be high, and we might have to suffer for a little bit, but the character in the group in there is exceptional."
Watch Republic of Ireland Under-21s v Slovakia Under-21s in UEFA European Championship qualifying on Friday from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
