Republic of Ireland Under-17 head coach Colin O'Brien has named a 21-player squad for next month’s World Cup in Qatar.
Sixteen of the squad, which will contest Ireland’s first World Cup at this level, have come through the League of Ireland pyramid, with 12 currently lining out for LOI sides.
Shamrock Rovers (Alex Noonan, Arsenal-bound Victor Ozhianvuna, Max Kovalevskis and first-team regular Michael Noonan) and Cork City (Brody Lee) have agreed to release their players, despite the clash with the FAI Cup final on 9 November.
O'Brien thanked all the clubs, who were under no obligation, as Ireland’s first two group games (5 and 8 November) fall outside the international window.
"All the clubs have been very supportive," he told RTÉ Sport. "There has been good communication.
"[It would be] very difficult to leave a player at home when we have two games before a Cup final.
"They understand the magnitude of where their players are going. They want their players in. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity for a lot of players.
"There are three age groups you can play in a World Cup right now in the male game: under-17, under-20 and senior.
"Hopefully, next week all the players come through their game schedule."
O'Brien has been boosted by the return of Shamrock Rovers duo Michael Noonan and Ozhianvuna, as well as former Shelbourne defender Finn Sherlock, now of Hoffenheim.
All three missed out on warm-up games in Pinatar, Spain, with Noonan featuring for the Ireland Under-21s squad in the last two international windows.
There is also a place on the plane for 16-year-old Sean Spaight, who is named in the squad alongside his Dundalk team-mate Vincent Leonard.
The duo are two of seven players from SSE Airtricity League of Ireland First Division clubs, with Corey Sheridan, Josh Cullen and Gavin McAteer representing Finn Harps, Ryan Butler of Wexford and Goodness Ogbonna of UCD.
Ireland have been drawn in Group J of the 48-team tournament, along with Panama, Uzbekistan and Paraguay.
Ireland’s opening game is on Wednesday, 5 November against Panama at 12.30pm Irish time. Uzbekistan are up next, at 3.45pm on Saturday, 8 November, before the final group clash against Paraguay on Tuesday, 11 November at 1.30pm.
This is the fifth major tournament at this age grade for O’Brien, with his squad qualifying for the World Cup following a 2-0 win over Poland and a 5-0 victory over Iceland in the Elite Round of the U17 European Qualifiers.
Republic of Ireland men’s Under-17 FIFA World Cup Squad
Goalkeepers: George Moloney (Southampton), Alex Noonan (Shamrock Rovers), Corey Sheridan (Finn Harps).
Defenders: Ryan Butler (Wexford), Josh Cullen (Finn Harps), Vinnie Leonard (Dundalk), Ade Solanke (FC Lorient), Oisin McDonagh (Venezia), Finn Sherlock (Hoffenheim), Sean Spaight (Dundalk).
Midfielders: Rory Finneran (Newcastle United), Ramon Martos (UD Almeria), Grady McDonnell (Club Brugge),Kian McMahon-Brown (Burnley), Goodness Ogbonna (UCD), Victor Ozhianvuna (Shamrock Rovers).
Forwards: Max Kovalevskis (Shamrock Rovers), Brody Lee (Cork City), Gavin McAteer (Finn Harps), Michael Noonan (Shamrock Rovers), Jaden Umeh (SL Benfica).
