Courtesy: FAI Futsal Portal


O’Neill names Futsal squad to face Holland Challenge

Thursday, 08 April 2010

Republic of Ireland Futsal Manager, Derek O’Neill has named his squad to play two away matches against Holland on April 19 and 20.

O’Neill has kept faith with the players who were narrowly beaten recently by Norway in the final 15 seconds including the international debutants from the AUL, Stephen Murphy, Alan McCabe and Goalie, Tommy Cullen. Said O’Neill:

“The new lads who came in against Norway did very well but these games against Holland will take their Futsal education to a new level altogether. Holland have an established semi professional Futsal league and have competed in the final stages of the UEFA European Championships and FIFA World Cups in recent times. They will test our abilities to the limit and it’s games like these where the players and coaching staff can learn valuable lessons which will help in the overall development of our Futsal and indeed football education.”

However, some disappointing news for O’Neill is that he will have to plan without skipper Mark Langtry who has been selected by University College Dublin to attend a Science Congress in the USA. Talented youngster, Ian Byrne will deputise as captain of the Irish side and is really looking forward to the role. “ Captaining any team is always a responsible job but to captain your country is an absolute honour and I can’t wait for the games. “

Byrne epitomises the youthful essence of O’Neill’s young squad and is testimony to the policy the Irish coaching staff have employed of trying to develop younger players. The hope is that the experience gained along the way by the young team whose average age is just 22, will reap the benefits in competition after a number of years developing together. However, O’Neill is keen to stress that the door is always open to any players with potential to improve the squad:
“We have a core of young players who have played in the National team set up for two years now. They have gained valuable experience in that time and are continually passing that on to new players who join the squad. As we’ve seen from the emergence of four AUL players into the squad, I’ve no doubt that there are lots of junior players around the country who could come in and be an asset to the international squad.“

The squad is as follows:

John Somers (Shamrock Rovers Futsal)
Thomas Cullen (AUL Futsal)
Ian Byrne (Shamrock Rovers Futsal)
Philip McDonagh (Shamrock Rovers Futsal)
Ross Zambra (Bray / Joeys Futsal)
Jack Doyle (Bray / Joeys Futsal)
Stephen Murphy (AUL Futsal)
Alan McCabe (AUL Futsal)
Craig Duggan (Douglas Hall, Cork)
Alan Lynch (Shamrock Rovers Futsal)
Cian McDonald (Shelbourne)
Lloyd Massey (Bray / Joeys Futsal)
Tony Kane (AUL Futsal)


Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com