Gary Connaughton reporting from Tallaght Stadium
The Ireland U21 side entered this international window knowing that history could potentially be in the offing.
Set to play in the final three games of their Euro qualifying campaign, taking nine points from those fixtures could be enough to secure Ireland's place in the finals for the first time. That likely won't be decided until after the trip to Italy in the final fixture of the group, although a play-off spot could already be sealed by that point.
Wins in their two home games over this bank holiday weekend is likely to be enough to seal at least second place, with the 3-0 victory over Bosnia & Herzegovina last night the ideal start to this international window.
It wasn't a vintage performance from Ireland at times, although the way they still emerged as comfortable winners would have been of huge encouragement to their manager. The goals also came from two hugely talented players who had not necessarily been all that involved in this campaign for various reasons, with a Mipo Odubeko strike sandwiched between a brace from Will Smallbone.
Jim Crawford thrilled by prospect of Euro qualification
Speaking after the game, Jim Crawford summed up how much qualifying for this tournament would mean to Irish football. It would be especially impressive when you consider that they are without a number of eligible players who are part of the senior squad, although this has allowed the U21s to have a more settled group throughout the campaign.
The players know we’re on the cusp of something extraordinary here. Our small country could get into the play-offs or maybe even automatic qualification come June the 14th would be magnificent, especially when you consider that we have nine U21 players up with the senior team.
I know they’ve a few injuries at the minute with Andrew Omobamidele, Aaron Connolly, and Adam Idah, but it shows the strength in depth we’ve got at this age group...
It will certainly help them going into Monday’s game. It was 3-0 in international football, and Monday’s game is hugely important for Irish football. If we can qualify with this group for the finals in Romania and Georgia, it would be an unbelievable achievement for that group of players...
It would be very hard to create an environment or a culture if you had players up and down every window. What has happened is the lads who have got promoted have stayed there, that’s given us the chance to gel the group that is here.
It wouldn’t surprise me if over the next couple of years some of these lads were hip in the senior team, that’s their ambition. For now, you can tell when you talk to them that they want to qualify for this. Come Monday, we will see a better performance and hopefully three points and closer to the finals.
Monday's game against Montenegro is likely to be a sterner test. Ireland suffered a 2-1 defeat when the two sides met in Podgorica back in October, conceding two goals in the opening ten minutes before Conor Coventry missed a penalty to earn a point late on.
However, Crawford's side seemed to have improved significantly since then and have added a handful of new faces to the squad. Will Smallbone is chief amongst them.
The Southampton man scored an impressive brace last night, with the player now hoping to put his recent injury nightmare behind him. Crawford believes he has the talent to be a very important player for both club and country in the future.
Will is a really silky footballer. He’s an athlete, he can play, he can see passes, now he has showed that he can score goals. He could have had a hat-trick tonight, we were laughing about it there inside.
Will is a huge plus to the squad, he always has been. He was sadly missed in the last window. What he brings to the group is that assurance in possession. Even Will at times was caught in those pockets where he was taking a touch and it was nicked off him with him not being used to the intensity of games.
I was hoping he would play a few more games towards the end of the season with Southampton, it didn’t happen, I think he came on in the last game in injury time. He’s got a huge future, he really does, because of his temperament and his ability.
A victory on Monday evening would put Ireland in a brilliant position to qualify for this tournament, a remarkable achievement when you consider the amount of talent missing from this squad.
SEE ALSO: After The Injury From Hell, Will Smallbone Has Taken The First Steps Toward Recovery
