Sligo’s Seamus Keogh has been named on the Republic of Ireland Under 15 squad for next week’s Invitational Tournament in Prague.
The Benbulben FC clubman is a student at Coláiste Cholmcille in Ballyshannon.
The youngest Irish international squad will finish out their season with games against Norway and the Czech Republic in the mini-tournament. They face the Norwegians on Tuesday April 18 and the Czechs two days later.
Ireland’s Under 15s have played four internationals this season with double-headers against Poland in November and the Netherlands in February.
“It’s our final event of the season with the Under 15s. We’re using these games to have a look at some new players who’ve done really well in their ETP centres and with their clubs,” said Donohue.
“In preparation for these we’ve looked at improving our shape from the last games against the Dutch and building on the 1-1 draw we got in the second game over there.
“This will be a three-team triangular tournament so it’s a new experience for the players. We’ve looked at videos of both sides. They each have a different style of play. The Czechs are an open attacking side that scores a lot of goals while Norway are a little more direct but still very competent on the ball.
“This will be a great learning tool for the players to get used to playing different opposition in a short space of time at such a young age and can only help their development towards the 2019 UEFA Under 17 Championships Finals tournament which we’re hosting.
“We’ve played St Patrick’s Athletic Under 17s, Bohemians Under 17s and Shamrock Rovers Under 17s in some preparation games recently so I’d like to say thanks to those teams for facilitating us.”
Donohue is delighted with how the squad has developed over the course of the international season.
“When I look at the progression from where we started off to where we are now I feel we’ve made huge strides in dealing with the speed of the game, learning to defend as a team and also that in attack you really need to take your opportunities. They have always showed that they’ve been learning so we’re pleased,” he added.
Republic of Ireland Under 15 Squad:
Matt Everett (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Jimmy Corcoran (Cherry Orchard)
Ronan McKinley (Finn Harps)
Josh Guirgi (Leixlip Utd)
Jack Funge (St Kevin’s Boys)
James Furlong (St Joseph’s Boys)
Armstrong Okoflex (Arsenal)
Gavin Bazuna (Shamrock Rovers)
Brandon Holt (Belvedere)
Cian Kelly (St Joseph’s Boys)
Sean Kennedy (Tralee Dynamos)
Seamus Keogh (Benbulben)
Karl O’Callaghan (St Kevin’s Boys)
Matthew Healy (College Corinthians)
Sean McEvoy (St Kevin’s Boys)
Troy Parrott (Belvedere)
Timi Sobowale (Villa FC)
Alex Dunne (Belvedere)
FIXTURES
Under 15 Invitational Tournament
Tuesday, April 18
Republic of Ireland v Norway, Artima, Prague (2.00pm Irish)
Thursday, April 20
Czech Republic v Republic of Ireland, Brozany nad Ohří (3.30pm Irish)
