We’re in the middle of the first ever “International Break” for the League of Ireland Premier Division. Up until recently, international call ups were never enough of an inconvenience to warrant a break. We’d have the odd player picked for Ireland under 21s with most of those called up for Under 19s not close to the LOI first team. It’s all changed.
Recent seasons have seen multiple games postponed because of international call ups with the subsequent shoehorning of fixtures later in the season annoying managers and fans alike. The FAI rules allow for a club to have their game called off if 2 or more first team squad members were called up to play for the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland at under 21 or senior level. (Northern Ireland was included because of Derry City). This led to justified complaints from those clubs effected by call ups from further afield, and from those with players in the under 19 international squads, that they were being unfairly punished.
Grown men
So now, in 2022, we join the rest of Europe by suspending the league for a week around the international window. It comes at a time when a record number of players depart to represent countries outside this island too. Senior internationals will travel the furthest with Nando Pijnaker (Sligo Rovers, on loan from Rio Ave) appearing for New Zealand in their World Cup qualifiers this week. Finn Harps midfielder Bastien Hery is back in the Madagascar squad for their friendly against Afghanistan. Shamrock Rovers defender Pico Lopes has a relatively short distance to travel to represent Cape Verde this time with three friendly games set to be played in France and Spain. Closer to home goalkeeper James Talbot of Bohemians was called up to replace the injured Mark Travers in the Republic of Ireland senior squad.
Basically grown men
16 November 2021; Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Brian Maher during the UEFA European U21 Championship qualifying group A match between Republic of Ireland and Sweden at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
It’s at U21 level we’ll see most players in action with youngsters from the league going off to represent the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. Remarkably, goalkeepers from 6 different clubs are on international duty. Nathan Sheppard (Dundalk) and Lewis Webb (Shelbourne, on loan from Swansea City) are 2 of the 3 keepers in the Wales under 21 squad. They’re joined by Dundalk pair Joe Adams and Dan Williams (the latter on loan from Swansea) to make it 4 players from the LOI in the Wales squad (with 3 of them playing with Dundalk). Drogheda United’s Sam Long (on loan from Lincoln City) has received his first call up for Scotland under 21s. Derry City’s Brian Maher is likely to start for the Republic of Ireland where he’ll be backed up by David Odomusu of St Patrick’s Athletic. Odomusu and Josh Keeley have alternated on the bench for St Pats and Keeley is off with the Ireland under 19s. The St Pats starting goalkeeper is Joseph Anang (on loan from West Ham) and he’s on standby for the England under 21 squad.
The Republic of Ireland U21s have a strong LOI presence. Apart from the goalkeepers mentioned, Andy Lyons (Shamrock Rovers), Dawson Devoy (Bohemians) and Colm Whelan (UCD) are regulars. Darragh Burns of St Pats receives his first call up at this level after switching back from the Northern Ireland set up. Speaking of Northern Ireland, Burns’ clubmate Jack Scott (on loan from Wolves) is a regular in the Northern Ireland under 21s and retains his place in the squad.
The size of grown men, but still growing
FULL TIME | #IRLU19 🏴 3-1 🇮🇪
It ends in defeat for Tom Mohan’s side ☘️
They play again on Saturday when they take on 🇵🇹 #COYBIG | #WeAreOne pic.twitter.com/tvE6CNnWA6— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) March 23, 2022
As mentioned earlier, players being called up at U19 level or below couldn’t trigger any postponements in previous years. So the international break is good news for Drogheda United (Sean Roughan) and St Patrick’s Athletic (James Abankwah, Kian Corbally and Josh Keeley). Galway United will be without the services of the highly rated Alex Murphy for their game with Longford Town this weekend. There are even players who are regular squad members of LOI clubs in the Ireland U17 squad with Sam Curtis, Darius Lipsiuc and Adam Murphy were all on the St Pats bench last Friday for their away game with Derry City who had 15-year-old Trent Kone Doherty on their bench. Circling back to keepers, Conor Walsh has been on the Sligo Rovers bench recently while their presumptive number 2 Luke McNicholas is on loan with Cliftonville (and a member of the under 21 squad). 8 of the starting 11 for the opening elite level group game with Portugal are with LOI clubs.
All of which is to say that with the LOI getting younger and younger, and becoming an attractive destination for loanees from Britain, we're likely to see more and more underage internationals playing with clubs here. The League of Ireland administration isn't famous for adapting to the times, but the introduction of an international break for the Premier Division clubs should be welcomed by clubs and fans. Best of luck to the lads involved.
SEE ALSO: The Greatest LOI Recap In The World: Bohs Woes, Crowd Trouble And More
