Head Coach Greg Yelverton has named an 18-man squad for the trip to Bordeaux as he makes final decisions before naming his 20-man squad that will travel to Naples for the tournament in July. Team Ireland were drawn in Pool A alongside South Korea and Uruguay.
The two teams have had a number of competitive encounters in what has become an annual fixture with the Irish team achieving their first victory over Les Bleus last June in Longford courtesy of goals from Georgie Poynton and Darragh Gibbons in a 2-1 success.
Head Coach Yelverton is looking forward to another meeting with his French counterparts and expects a stiff test. “It is a great opportunity for our players to prove themselves against top opposition. France are one of the top teams in International University Football and will be well motivated with their own preparations for the Universiade. We had a great victory against them last year on home soil and the objective will be to replicate that feat in their territory.
Speaking on the players at his disposal and whittling down his squad for the Universiade, the Cork native said “We have approximately thirty players at the moment in consideration for Italy. The next couple of days will be important for these eighteen players to impress me enough to guarantee their place. There are a number of players who are unfortunate to miss out here due to exams and their club commitments but we are still keeping an eye on them as the play for their clubs. Each player has their chance to be selected and it is up to them to prove it to me with their performances for club or country.
Colleges and Universities Squad to play France.
Goalkeepers: David Coffey (UCC), Paul Martin (Waterford IT)
Defenders: Ronan Young (Queen’s University), Tristan Noack-Hofmann (DCU), Gordon Walker (UCC), Robert Slevin (UCC), Joe Manley (TU Dublin), Conor Keeley (Griffith College Dublin)
Midfielders: Dean Kelly (IT Carlow), Pierce Phillips (UCC), Jamie Hollywood (TU Dublin), David Hurley (UCC), Sean McSweeney (University of Limerick), Cillian Duffy (Maynooth University)
Forwards: Alan O’Sullivan (IT Carlow), Michael Scott (TU Dublin), Simon Falvey (UCC), Aaron Dobbs (TU Dublin)
International Friendly
21/5: France v Ireland, Bordeaux, 10.30am (9.30am Irish time)