Finn Harps midfielder Ethan Boyle has been named in the Republic of Ireland U21 squad for the forthcoming UEFA U21 Championship Qualifying Round fixture with Kosovo, while goalkeeper Harry Doherty is on standby for the international game.
The Irish team will host the Kosovans at Tallaght Stadium on Saturday week at 1pm, in their opening game of the 2019 qualifiers.
Ireland are grouped with Germany, Israel, Norway, Azerbaijan and Kosovo, who are entering the qualifiers for the first time.
Derry City striker Ronan Curtis is the only other League of Ireland player named in Noel King’s 19-man squad.
Republic of Ireland U21 manager Noel King.
Boyle, who can play in defence or midfield impressed for the Republic of Ireland home based squad in a friendly against the Irish Amateur side last month at the AUL Complex in Dublin. Fellow Harps player Harry Doherty also featured as a sub keeper in that game. Boyle was signed by Ollie Horgan prior to the 2016 Premier Division season.
He made a total of 30 appearances for Finn Harps in all competitions, including 24 in the league, last season. Despite interest from other clubs including Waterford, Horgan persuaded Boyle to sign a new deal for the 2017 campaign. Doherty, who was formerly on the books of both Charlton Athletic and Brighton & Hove Albion, joined Finn Harps in January from Ulster Senior League side Cockhill Celtic and made his debut in the recent game away to Bray Wanderers.
Italy and San Marino will co-host the UEFA U21 Championships Finals tournament.
The nine group winners advance to the finals with the four best runners-up entering a play-off to decide the final two spots in the tournament alongside the Italians.
Republic of Ireland Under 21 Squad
Goalkeepers: Kieran O’Hara (Manchester United), Liam Bossin (Anderlecht)
Defenders: Danny Kane (Huddersfield Town), Ryan Sweeney (Stoke City – on loan at Bristol Rovers), Shaun Donnellan (West Bromwich Albion), Corey Whelan (Liverpool), Connor O’Grady (Sheffield Wednesday)
Midfielders: Liam Kinsella (Walsall), Rory Hale (Aston Villa), Josh Cullen (West Ham United – on loan at Bradford), Harry Charsley (Everton), Ryan Manning (Queens Park Rangers), Ethan Boyle (Finn Harps), Connor Dimaio (Chesterfield), Olamide Shodipo (Queens Park Rangers – on loan to Port Vale)
Forwards: Ronan Curtis (Derry City), Grego Cox (Queens Park Rangers), Jake Mulraney (Inverness CT), Joe Quigley (Bournemouth – on loan at Gillingham)
Fixture
UEFA U21 European Championships Qualifying Round – Group 5
Saturday, 25 March: Republic of Ireland v Kosovo, Tallaght Stadium, KO 13.00
