- Dylan O'Connell
- Thu, Jun 03 2021
Stephen Kenny gave a detailed insight into his Irish football revolution this week as he prepared for the friendly double-header with Andorra and Hungary.
The Ireland manager says he works closely with all levels of the national teams, from the senior men’s down to the under-15s, to make sure there is a clear positive progression.
“We share our ideas with all of the teams from the under-15s up. That has been consistent,” Kenny said.
“That has helped us with the progression with a lot of the players over the last year. That is a real positive.”
“Tom Mohan did terrific with the under-19s at the European Championships. Colin O’Brien, Paul Osam, Jason Donohue and Jim Crawford have been great.
“Andy Reid was coaching with us too. They are all progressive coaches and they are all an important part of the Irish international set up.”
Over the last twelve months, the Irish under-21s has been a stepping stone for young talent to get onto the senior team.
Players such as Adam Idah, Caoimhin Kelleher, Gavin Bazunu and Troy Parrot all came through the 21s and made it onto the Republic of Ireland senior team.
Meanwhile, names such as Luca Connell and Tyreik Wright have graduated from the under-19s to the under-21s.
“We don’t all work on the training ground because we work in different windows,” he said as he gave further inside into life inside the FAI.
“Jim Crawford with the under-21s would have his games at the same time I would, so he has his camp and I have mine.
"He is doing all he can to get a new group of players ready for the upcoming qualifiers.”
The under-21s played two friendlies against Switzerland and Australia this week. While they lost the first game 2-0, they retaliated by putting in a possession-based masterclass against the Socceroos.
An own goal gave the Boys in Green the lead, before Ramy Najjarine made it 1-1 from a curling shot just outside the box.
The winner came from a stunning run by Tyreik Wright, who tore down the full length of the pitch before placing a perfect cross into the path of Ross Tierney.
The Bohemians youngster fired in a buttle header with his first touch, which settled the game as the clock ticked into injury time.
The under-21s are busy preparing for upcoming qualifiers for the 2023 European Championships. In their group is Italy, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sweden, and Luxembourg.
