The Championship gets underway this weekend. From an Irish perspective, it's a hugely important league. Of the 23 players Martin O'Neill took to France, 10 of them could be playing in the second tier of English football this season.
We've left some obviously talented and important Irish players off this list, such as Shane Duffy, Alan Judge, Jeffy Hendrick, Richard Keogh and Keiren Westwood because you already know who they are.
Conor Hourihane
Team: Barnsley
Age: 25
Position: Midfield
Last season, Conor Hourihane played at Wembley - twice. On both occasions, the Corkman captained his side to victory. The first appearance was in the Football League Trophy final, a 3-2 win against Oxford. The second, a far more important game, was the League One play-off final victory against Millwall.
Since joining the club, the 25-year-old has been an instrumental player for Barnsley. In his first season - where he was named Player of the Year - Hourihane scored 13 times. He followed that up by hitting the back of the net on 11 occasions last season. He also provided 11 assists.
In November, Barnsley were bottom of League One, relegation looked highly probable. Hourihane was a key player as Barnsley journeyed from trap door to the ladder of the playoffs.
Darragh Lenihan
Team: Blackburn
Age: 22
Position: Centre-back/defensive midfield
There's a race on in Irish football - one which isn't getting enough press. Remarkably, a Meathman has never played senior international football for Ireland. There are two candidates for that honour on this list. In pole position is Darragh Lenihan, the second candidate is Kevin Toner.
Last season, Lenihan - from Dunboyne - established himself in the first team at Blackburn. In January, the 22-year-old got his chance under Paul Lambert and did not relinquish it. He made no league appearances prior to Christmas, after it, he made 23. His versatility, filling in at centre-back and in midfield was undoubtedly key.
Lenihan, who has captained the Ireland U21s under Noel King, was compared to Roy Keane by Paul Lambert.
At half-time of a training match against Preston North End, the gaffer told me I reminded him of a young Roy Keane.
That was pleasing to hear because, as a Manchester United fan growing up, Roy Keane was my idol.
Matt Doherty
Congratulations to the winner of this year's Goal of the Season, @mattdoherty20, for his strike against @FulhamFC.https://t.co/4pjUPT1Sf1
— Wolves (@OfficialWolves) May 10, 2016
Team: Wolves
Age: 24
Position: Full-back
Doherty, from Dublin, would normally have been considered a right-back. However, he flourished last season while being used as an emergency left-back by Kenny Jackett.
The 24-year-old revelled in the position, doing enough to be named Wolves Players' Player of the Season and Fans' Player of the Season. It was a hat-trick of awards for Doherty as his strike against Fulham was named the club's Goal of the Season.
Congratulations to the winner of this year's Goal of the Season, @mattdoherty20, for his strike against @FulhamFC.https://t.co/4pjUPT1Sf1
— Wolves (@Wolves) May 10, 2016
Doherty was rewarded for his form by being called up to the Ireland squad for the pre-Euro 2016 friendlies against Slovakia and Switzerland though he was not called up for the more important games in May against Netherlands and Belarus.
With Kenny Jackett being sacked as manager, Wolves getting some major investment and Walter Zenga being installed as manager, it's going to be interesting to see how things work out for Doherty this season.
Greg Cunningham
Team: Preston
Age: 25
Position: Left-back
Left-back had long been a problem position for Ireland - that is no longer the case. The reliability of Stephen Ward was evident at Euro 2016, there's also the versatility of Robbie Brady. Along with those two established names there's Matt Doherty and Greg Cunningham.
It's six years since Cunningham made his Ireland debut under Giovanni Trapattoni. Since then he has only managed a further three games for his country. There are mitigating circumstances - mainly injuries, including a broken leg on New Year's Day 2011.
Last season saw a major resurgence in Cunningham's career. In his first season with Preston he was named their Player of the Year.
Alan Browne
Team: Preston
Age: 21
Position: Midfield
Such was Alan Browne's excellent form for Preston last season, he was linked with moves to Crystal Palace and Bournemouth during the January transfer window. A move to the Premier League did not materialise and Browne has since shown his commitment to the club by signing a three-and-a-half year deal.
Picked up from Cork City in 2014, Browne quickly established himself in the first-team and is now viewed as one of Preston's key players.
Kevin Toner - Aston Villa
Villa U21s showing a whole load of fight against West Ham! #AVFC @SupportThe21shttps://t.co/uZfdMnIXvl
— Adam Bath (@adambath25) April 11, 2016
Team: Aston Villa
Age: 20
Position: Centre-back
The departure of one Irish international from Villa Park is likely to be good news for a future one. Ciaran Clark is rumoured to be heading to Newcastle. That will, hopefully, be to the benefit one Kevin Toner.
Towards the end of last season, Toner played four times for Aston Villa, three of those were starts.
Following the 0-0 draw with Newcastle, where Toner filled in a left-back, Villa caretaker manager Eric Black was full of praise for the 20-year-old.
We looked at the video and their biggest threat was down the right. It was a big ask for Kevin Toner but my goodness did he stand up to it.
He deserves enormous credit. He kept his head held high and he has performed at Premier League level.
We looked at the video and their biggest threat was down the right. It was a big ask for Kevin Toner but my goodness did he stand up to it.
He deserves enormous credit. He kept his head held high and he has performed at Premier League level.
John Egan
Team: Brentford
Age: 23
Position: Centre-back
Last season John Egan, born in Cork, was named in the League One Team of the Season as Gillingham finished five points off the playoff places. In 36 league appearances, he scored six goals. His debut season for Gillingham was also an excellent one as he was named the club's Player of the Year.
Egan - who is the son of six-time Kerry All-Ireland winner John Egan - originally began his career in English football with Sunderland. He was released by the club two years ago and was snapped up by Gillingham.
In early July Brentford signed the centre-back on a three-year deal.
Scott Hogan
Team: Brentford
Age: 24
Position: Striker
Born in Salford, Hogan has not yet been capped - or called up - by Ireland at international level. He does however qualify for Ireland through both of his grandparents and both he and Martin O'Neill have spoken positively about a future with the Boys in Green.
Hogan had a thrilling finish to last season, one which elicited speculation that he might be a surprise call up to Ireland's euro 2016 squad. In Brentford's final four games of 2016/17, the 24-year-old scored seven times.
It was the end of a long wait for the player. After signing for Brentford in 2014, he spent 18 months out with a knee injury.
Recently, due to his rise through the non-league ranks and being linked with Leicester, Hogan was labeled 'the next Jamie Vardy'.
Jack Byrne
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYyK7ljDf6k
Team: Blackburn (on loan from Man City)
Age: 20
Position: Attacking midfielder
Byrne is probably Irish football's most exciting prospect right now. After spending last season on loan with Eeredivisie side Cambuur, he will this season play his football in the Championship. Hopefully, at Blackburn, he will establish a midfield partnership with Darragh Lenihan.
The Dubliner is an attacking midfielder, one with the creative ability Irish fans crave.
His development stepped up a notch with Cambuur, often being recognised as the best player on the pitch in a team destined for relegation. The 20-year-old scored four times for Cambuur in 25 league appearancs.
During Ireland's pre-Euro 2016 training camps, Byrne worked out with the senior players.
Callum O'Dowda
Team: Bristol City
Age: 21
Position: Winger
The 20 minutes Callum O'Dowda spent on the pitch during Ireland's final Euro 2016 warm-up game against Belarus, were the most exciting of any Irish player that night. O'Dowda had the look of a player who had just been told by Roy Keane or Martin O'Neill that he had a chance of making the squad. He looked assured and creative, driving Ireland forward as they sought an equaliser.
O'Dowda starred for Oxford as they won promotion to League One last season. They also lost the Football League Trophy final Conor Hourihane's Barnsley. O'Dowda scored 10 times in 50 appearances.
Since then, O'Dowda's ascent up the English football ladder has been expedited. Last month he signed with Bristol City for a fee of around £1.2 million.
Adam McDonnell
Team: Ipswich
Age: 19
Position: Creative midfielder
Ispwich signed Adam McDonnell from Shelbourne two years ago, though it was not until the following season that he made his debut for Mick McCarthy. That was not due to a lack of belief by McCarthy in the player, rather it was down to FIFA red tape which meant he was unable to make his debut until he turned 18.
McDonnell made his first start for Ipswich in a 4-1 Carling Cup win against Doncaster, impressing his manager who described his performance as 'excellent'.
The teenager would have to wait until the end of the season in a game against Derby to make his first Championship appearance.
In July, Ipswich showed how much they believe in McDonnell as a prospect by giving the Dubliner a new two-year deal which has an option for another 12 months.
On signing the contract, McDonell expressed his desire to establish himself in the first-team.
This season it will be about more than just making the bench but to get more playing time. I’m still only 19 but I feel I’m good enough to be in the first-team so I’m looking to play more this year.
McDonnell has played at U15, U16, U17 and U19 for Ireland.
