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O’Brien has handed a first international call-up to Lincoln City defender Sean Roughan as the squad prepare for the Elite Round of qualification of the UEFA European Under-17 Championships in Scotland next month.
Ireland will face Switzerland on Wednesday at 12pm (Irish time) and again on Friday at 11am (Irish time) with both games taking place at Campos De Futbol Oliva Nova.
Speaking about the squad selection O’Brien said
“We’re looking forward to seeing Sean Roughan and viewing how he does in the international environment.
“It’s a week where we have to concentrate on ourselves and get back into good habits and prepare for the Elite Round.
“We had a couple of days with some of the home-based players and a lot of them are in pre-season at the moment so we’re having to put a plan in place that works with those players.
“They’ve been back with their clubs for a couple of weeks and once we finish with the players on Friday we’ll be six weeks out from competition time.
“It’s a challenge, but I’d be very hopeful that the training intensity of the home-based players will go up in the coming weeks and benefit us going into the Elite Round.”
On facing Switzerland
“Switzerland have also qualified for the Elite Round so they will give us a really good test – which we need.
“In the last number of years Switzerland have been pretty strong at Under-17s and Under-19s level and I think they’ve made a lot of in-roads, particularly through their attacking players and attacking play.
“Our players will know that everything will go up a level as we face teams who have gone through from the first qualifying round.”
Republic of Ireland squad
Goalkeepers: Josh Keeley (St Patrick’s Athletic), Daniel Rose (Everton)
Defenders: Gavin O’Brien (Bohemians), Darragh Reilly (Shamrock Rovers), Oisin Hand (Shamrock Rovers), Adam Wells (Shamrock Rovers), Leigh Kavanagh (Bray Wanderers), Fionnan Coyle (Finn Harps), Tayo Adaramola (Crystal Palace), Sean Roughan (Lincoln City)
Midfielders: Colin Conroy (Bohemians), Kyle Conway (St Patrick’s Athletic), Ben McCormack (St Patrick’s Athletic), Jamie Doyle (Shamrock Rovers), Andrew Moran (Bray Wanderers), Kailin Barlow (Sligo Rovers), Oran Crowe (Cork City)
Forwards: Robbie Mahon (Bohemians), Evan Ferguson (Bohemians), Sinclair Armstrong (Shamrock Rovers), Calum Kavanagh (Middlesbrough), Oliver O’Neill (Fulham)
Fixtures
Wednesday, February 12: Ireland vs Switzerland, Campos De Futbol Oliva Nova, KO 12pm (Irish time)
Friday, February 14: Ireland vs Switzerland, Campos De Futbol Oliva Nova, KO 11am (Irish time)
