Harps trio hope to feature against Switzerland

BY JACK KENNEDY

After a nail-biting shoot-out with Canada, Colin O’Brien’s Republic of Ireland U17 team face Switzerland in a Round of 16 clash at the World Cup today.

Both sides are looking to push after impressive campaigns so far. Switzerland and the Republic of Ireland finished top of their respective groups. They met in October in an International Friendly with the teams finishing level after a last gasp equalizer from Ade Solanke.

Gavin McAteer, Josh Cullen and Corey Cummins-Sheridan will hope to feature in today’s knockout clash. The Finn Harps trio were unused substitutes in the side’s last outing. Cullen and McAteer played the opening 62 minutes in Ireland’s final Group Stage game against Paraguay. Cummins-Sheridan has been an unused sub so far this campaign.

Kick-off in Doha is 2:45pm (Irish time)

Republic of Ireland Men’s Under-17 FIFA World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers: George Moloney (Southampton), Alex Noonan (Shamrock Rovers), Corey Cummins-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).