IAN EVANS wasted no time in defining the priorities for the Republic of Ireland under 21 team when he named the side to play the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia at Dalymount Park this evening.
"My aim is to build a team which will win games and hopefully make an impact on the championship," said Evans. "Ireland has never won anything at this level this is as good a time as any to start putting that right."
Evans promptly reinforced the point by naming a team which includes two full internationals Mark Kennedy and Gareth Farrelly, and several more with hopes of making the breakthrough over the next couple of years.
Kennedy will operate as the left sided midfield player. Stephen Carr, who has played in Tottenham's first team this season, fills the corresponding position on the opposite flank.
Dave Worrell (Blackburn), Owen Coll (Bournemouth) and Ross Darcy (Tottenham) fill the pivotal roles in defence. In midfield Evans can count on the emerging talent of Gavin O'Toole (Coventry), Farrelly and another player with experience of English Premiership football, Middlesbrough's Keith O'Halloran.
Macedonia opened their under 21 programme with a 3-0 win over Iceland in Reykjavik and on that form will have to be respected.
