Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team

The Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team is a representative team of Irish football players. It is governed by the Football Association of Ireland and represents them at Under-21 level against the national teams of other national associations. The team played its first match in 1978 and has competed in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship since 1988.

Republic of Ireland Under-21
Nickname(s)Boys in Green
AssociationFootball Association of Ireland (FAI)
Head coachJim Crawford
CaptainAnselmo García MacNulty
Most capsConor Coventry (28)
Top scorerRobbie Brady (7)
Kevin Doyle (7)
First colours
Second colours
First international
Rep. Ireland 1–1 Northern Ireland
(Dublin; 8 March 1978)
Biggest win
San Marino 0–7 Rep. Ireland
(Serravalle, San Marino; 22 March 2024)
Biggest defeat
Germany 8–0 Rep. Ireland
(Baunatal; 23 March 1993)
Best resultHave never qualified

History

As a European under-21 team, the Republic of Ireland participates in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, which takes place every two years. There is no Under-21 World Cup, although there is an Under-20 World Cup. Ireland did not enter the first five Under-21 Championships, entering for the first time in 1988 but failing to qualify. Ireland have never qualified for the European Under-21 Championships.

UEFA European Under-21 Championship record
UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship record UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Qualification record
Year Round Pld W D * L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
1978 did not enter – – – – – –
1980 – – – – – –
1982 – – – – – –
1984 – – – – – –
1986 – – – – – –
1988 did not qualify 4 0 2 2 3 7
1990 did not enter – – – – – –
1992 did not qualify 6 1 0 5 5 14
1994 8 1 1 6 7 20
1996 8 2 2 4 7 9
1998 8 3 0 5 11 7
2000 8 4 2 2 13 12
2002 8 4 1 3 10 7
2004 8 2 2 4 8 11
2006 8 1 2 5 10 14
2007 2 1 0 1 2 1
2009 8 1 2 5 4 14
2011 10 1 4 5 5 11
2013 8 4 1 3 15 10
2015 8 2 2 4 10 12
2017 10 4 0 6 14 17
2019 10 4 2 4 12 15
2021 10 6 1 3 15 8
2023 12 6 3 3 17 11
Total 134 43 27 64 160 187
*Draws include knockout matches decided by penalty shootout.

UEFA European Under-21 Championship

2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification
Main article: 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group A
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Italy 7 4 3 0 16 3 +13 15 Final tournament — 15 Oct '24 2–0 2–0 1–1 5 Sep '24
2  Republic of Ireland 6 4 1 1 19 8 +11 13 Play-offs 2–2 — 11 Oct '24 10 Sep '24 3–2 3–0
3  Norway 6 4 0 2 21 6 +15 12 10 Sep '24 3–2 — 7–0 15 Oct '24 4–0
4  Latvia 6 2 1 3 5 12 −7 7[lower-alpha 1] 0–0 1–2 6 Sep '24 — 2–1 2–0
5  Turkey 6 2 1 3 11 8 +3 7[lower-alpha 1] 0–2 6 Sep '24 2–0 11 Oct '24 — 5–0
6  San Marino (E) 7 0 0 7 0 35 −35 0 0–7 0–7 0–7 15 Oct '24 10 Sep '24 —
Updated to match(es) played on 26 March 2024. Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(E) Eliminated
Notes:
  1. Ranked on head-to-head points: Latvia 3, Turkey 0.

Results and fixtures

2023
26 March Friendly Republic of Ireland  2–1  Iceland Cork, Republic of Ireland
16:00 GMT Tom Cannon 23'
Festy Ebosele  29'
Johnny Kenny 82'		 Report Kristall Máni Ingason 14' Stadium: Turners Cross
Attendance: 6,000
13 June Friendly Republic of Ireland  C–C  Gabon Austria
17:00 GMT Report
Note: Fixture cancelled on 12 June as Gabon elected not to travel to Austria for the fixture.
16 June Friendly Ukraine  2–2  Republic of Ireland Bad Blumau, Austria
17:00 GMT Artem Bondarenko 16' (pen.)
Danylo Sikan 73' (pen.)		 Andrew Moran 45+5'
Bosun Lawal 82'		 Stadium: Union Sport-Club Blumau
19 June Friendly Republic of Ireland  3–0  Kuwait Bad Radkersburg, Austria
16:00 GMT Ollie O'Neill 5'
Conor Carty 7'
Aidomo Emakhu 52'		 Report Stadium: Parktherme Arena
Note: Fixture abandoned after 70 minutes due to a racist comment by a Kuwait player towards Ireland substitute Sinclair Armstrong.
8 September UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification Republic of Ireland  3–2  Turkey Cork, Republic of Ireland
19:30 GMT Andrew Moran 56'
Zak Gilsenan 87' (pen.)
Aidomo Emakhu 90+6'
Sean Roughan  90+9'		 Report Kenan Yıldız 22' (pen.)
Cihan Çanak 76'		 Stadium: Turners Cross
Attendance: 3,754
Referee: Joonas Jaanovits (Estonia)
12 September UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification Republic of Ireland  3–0  San Marino Cork, Republic of Ireland
19:30 GMT Rocco Vata 8'
Rocco Vata 45+2'
Sinclair Armstrong 66'		 Report Stadium: Turners Cross
Attendance: 3,826
Referee: Antoine Paul Chiaramonti (Andorra)
13 October UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification Latvia  1–2  Republic of Ireland Jelgava, Latvia
13:00 GMT Lūkass Vapne 90+2' Report Armstrong Oko-Flex 15'
Armstrong Oko-Flex 57'		 Stadium: Zemgale Olympic Center
Referee: Oliver Reitala (Finland)
17 November UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification Norway  3–2  Republic of Ireland Drammen, Norway
17:00 GMT Halvor Rødølen Opsahl 20'
Kristian Arnstad 72' (pen.)
Lasse Selvåg Nordås 77'		 Report Aidomo Emakhu 37'
Sinclair Armstrong 53'		 Stadium: Marienlyst Stadion
Referee: Walter Altmann (Austria)
21 November UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification Republic of Ireland  2–2  Italy Cork, Republic of Ireland
17:30 GMT Killian Phillips 31'
Sinclair Armstrong 48'		 Report Wilfried Gnonto 45+1' (pen.)
Wilfried Gnonto 90+6'		 Stadium: Turners Cross
Referee: Lionel Tschudi (Switzerland)

2024
22 March UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification San Marino  0–7  Republic of Ireland Serravalle, San Marino
17:00 GMT Report Sinclair Armstrong 26'
Andrew Moran 53'
Sinclair Armstrong 57'
Rocco Vata 62'
Rocco Vata 64'
Armstrong Oko-Flex 73'
Rocco Vata 90+1'		 Stadium: San Marino Stadium
Referee: Viktor Kopiievskyi
7 June Friendly Croatia  2–3  Republic of Ireland Zagreb, Croatia
17:00 GMT Igor Matanović 62'
Matija Frigan 74' (pen.)		 Report Andrew Moran 11'
Sinclair Armstrong 14'
Aidomo Emakhu 52'		 Stadium: Gradski Stadion
Referee: Filip Dragašević
11 June Friendly England  2–2  Republic of Ireland Zagreb, Croatia
15:00 GMT Archie Brown 45+2'
Dane Scarlett 47' (pen.)		 Joe Hodge 4'
Armstrong Oko-Flex 88'		 Stadium: Gradski Stadion
Referee: Ivan Vučkovič
6 September UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification Turkey  v  Republic of Ireland Turkey
TBD Report
10 September UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification Republic of Ireland  v  Latvia Cork, Republic of Ireland
TBD Report Stadium: Turners Cross
11 October UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification Republic of Ireland  v  Norway Cork, Republic of Ireland
TBD Report Stadium: Turners Cross
15 October UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualification Italy  v  Republic of Ireland Italy
TBD Report

Staff

The Under-21s' management team includes:[1]

Position Name Appointed
Head coach Jim Crawford 5 April 2020
Assistant coach Alan Reynolds 9 July 2020
Assistant coach Paul McShane 28 August 2023
Goalkeeping coach Rene Gilmartin 24 April 2020
Lead Performance Analyst Martin Doyle April 2020
Sports Scientist Paul Walsh 18 March 2023
Sports Scientist Adam Fox June 2021
Chartered Physiotherapist Glauber Barduzzi 24 April 2019
Athletic Therapist Kieran Murray March 2022
Doctor Dr Mortimer O'Connor March 2021
Performance Nutritionist Ian Byrne March 2023
Kitman John Crudden May 2023

Players

Current squad

Players born on or after 1 January 2002 are eligible for the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.

The following players were called up for the Friendly fixtures against Croatia U21 & England U20 on 7 & 11 June 2024.[2]

Caps and goals updated as of 11 June 2024, after the game vs England U20.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Josh Keeley (2003-05-17) 17 May 2003 8 0 Tottenham Hotspur
16 1GK Tiernan Brooks (2003-06-17) 17 June 2003 3 0 Notts County
23 1GK Killian Cahill (2003-11-03) 3 November 2003 1 0 Brighton & Hove Albion
4 2DF Bosun Lawal (2003-05-30) 30 May 2003 12 1 Celtic
2 2DF Sam Curtis (2005-12-01) 1 December 2005 10 0 Sheffield United
3 2DF Sean Roughan (2003-03-14) 14 March 2003 8 0 Lincoln City
5 2DF Anselmo García MacNulty (2003-02-19) 19 February 2003 8 0 PEC Zwolle
12 2DF Connor O'Riordan (2003-10-19) 19 October 2003 5 0 Blackburn Rovers
18 2DF James Abankwah (2004-01-16) 16 January 2004 3 0 Udinese
20 2DF Alex Murphy (2004-06-25) 25 June 2004 2 0 Newcastle United
24 2DF Connor O'Brien (2004-07-12) 12 July 2004 2 0 Accrington Stanley
10 3MF Andrew Moran (vice-captain) (2003-10-15) 15 October 2003 11 4 Brighton & Hove Albion
6 3MF Joe Hodge (captain) (2002-09-14) 14 September 2002 8 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
8 3MF Matt Healy (2002-04-12) 12 April 2002 8 0 Francs Borains
21 3MF Baba Adeeko (2003-04-03) 3 April 2003 6 0 Wigan Athletic
7 3MF Rocco Vata (2005-04-18) 18 April 2005 3 5 Celtic
25 3MF Conan Noonan (2003-01-17) 17 January 2003 1 0 Shamrock Rovers
14 4FW Ollie O'Neill (2003-01-08) 8 January 2003 11 2 Leyton Orient
9 4FW Sinclair Armstrong (2003-06-22) 22 June 2003 8 6 Queens Park Rangers
19 4FW Aidomo Emakhu (2003-10-26) 26 October 2003 8 4 Millwall
11 4FW Tony Springett (2002-09-22) 22 September 2002 5 0 Norwich City
15 4FW Armstrong Oko-Flex (2002-03-02) 2 March 2002 5 4 FC Zürich
17 4FW Mark O'Mahony (2005-01-15) 15 January 2005 2 0 Brighton & Hove Albion
22 4FW Calum Kavanagh (2003-09-05) 5 September 2003 1 0 Bradford City

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the Republic of Ireland under-21 squad and remain eligible:

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Andrew Wogan (2005-12-01) 1 December 2005 0 0 Drogheda United v.  San Marino, 22 March 2024
GK Owen Mason (2004-03-24) 24 March 2004 0 0 Wexford v.  Latvia, 13 October 2023PRE
DF Tayo Adaramola (2003-11-14) 14 November 2003 5 0 Crystal Palace v.  San Marino, 22 March 2024
DF Sean Grehan (2004-01-01) 1 January 2004 4 0 Crystal Palace v.  San Marino, 22 March 2024
DF James Furlong (2002-06-07) 7 June 2002 4 0 Hull City v.  Latvia, 13 October 2023
DF Evan Weir (2002-04-16) 16 April 2002 0 0 Drogheda United v.  Latvia, 13 October 2023PRE
MF Killian Phillips (2002-03-30) 30 March 2002 6 1 Crystal Palace v.  San Marino, 22 March 2024
MF Zak Gilsenan (2003-05-08) 8 May 2003 4 1 Blackburn Rovers v.  San Marino, 22 March 2024
MF Adam Murphy (2005-04-08) 8 April 2005 2 0 Bristol City v.  Italy, 21 November 2023
MF Kian Leavy (2002-03-21) 21 March 2002 2 0 St Patrick's Athletic v.  Italy, 21 November 2023PRE
MF Ed McJannet (2004-01-25) 25 January 2004 3 0 Lecce v.  Latvia, 13 October 2023PRE
MF Tyler Goodrham (2003-08-07) 7 August 2003 0 0 Oxford United v.  Turkey, 8 September 2023INJ
MF Darragh Burns (2002-08-06) 6 August 2002 2 0 Shamrock Rovers v.  Kuwait, 19 June 2023
MF Jack Henry-Francis (2003-09-23) 23 September 2003 1 0 Arsenal v.  Kuwait, 19 June 2023
MF Dara Costelloe (2002-12-11) 11 December 2002 1 0 Burnley v.  Kuwait, 19 June 2023
MF Harry Vaughan (2004-04-06) 6 April 2004 0 0 Hull City v.  Kuwait, 19 June 2023
FW Johnny Kenny (2003-06-06) 6 June 2003 5 1 Shamrock Rovers v.  England, 11 June 2024PRE
FW Dylan Duffy (2002-11-28) 28 November 2002 1 0 Lincoln City v.  San Marino, 22 March 2024
FW Conor Carty (2002-05-25) 25 May 2002 4 1 Bolton Wanderers v.  Italy, 21 November 2023

INJ Withdrew from latest squad due to injury
WD Withdrew from latest squad
PRE Preliminary squad / standby
SUS Player is suspended
SEN Player called up to Senior squad

Note: Names in italics denote players that have been capped for the senior team.

References
  1. https://www.fai.ie/latest/u21-jim-crawford-names-squad-san-marino-qualifier/
  2. https://www.fai.ie/latest/under-21s-squad-confirmed-croatia-and-england-friendlies/
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