The Republic of Ireland will face Spain in Saturday’s under-17 European Championships quarter-final at the Hidegkuti Nándor Stadium in Budapest on Saturday. The match will be televised live on RTÉ Two from 7pm.
Spain, the nine-time champions at this age grade, join Colin O’Brien’s team, England and defending champions France in the bottom half of an ultra-competitive last eight.
Two goals apiece from St Patrick’s Athletic duo Luke Kehir and Mason Melia saw them advance to the knock-out stages on Tuesday night after a 4-2 defeat of hosts Hungary in Felcsút.
Ireland needed to beat the Hungarians to finish runners-up in Group A behind Poland who trashed them 5-1 in the opening fixture before a remarkable turnaround by O’Brien’s side produced a 3-0 win over Wales last Saturday.
A semi-final against England remains a possibility, although finding a way past Spain should focus the collective mind of a group that is coached by former Ireland international David Meyler.
“I thought it was a very mature performance from the team,” said O’Brien. “We had to show resilience. The boys stayed calm under pressure when the game got away from us at times. It’s great to see that because it means they’re growing and they’re developing.
“We’re the youngest squad here. I’m so proud of them because they’re a great bunch of lads, brilliant personalities, great values and the quality is there as well.”
In a sign of the times, 18 of the squad are attached to League of Ireland clubs with Hull City’s Stanley Ashbee and Crystal Palace’s Jake Grante playing in England as Brexit blocks under 18s from moving across the water.
Melia has caught the eye in Hungary with St Pat’s manager Jon Daly already handing the 15-year-old his League of Ireland debut against Drogheda United earlier this month.
“The next step for Mason is more game time in our first team and then just build it up from there,” said Daly. “We can’t get ahead of ourselves, he is 15, he has a long way to go but he has done very well so far.”
And following reports of a move to Liverpool, St Pat’s technical director Alan Matthews called it “background noise.”
“We have no control over that,” said Matthews. “I think Mason comes from a very, very good family. There are coaches around him. He would be well tutored and well minded.”
Ireland Men’s Under-17 Squad
Goalkeepers: Joe Collins (Bohemians), Jason Healy (Waterford)
Defenders: Stanley Ashbee (Hull City), Daniel Babb (UCD), Jake Grante (Crystal Palace), Kaylem Harnett (Wexford FC), Cory O’Sullivan (Shamrock Rovers), Ade Solanke (Shamrock Rovers)
Midfielders: Romeo Akachukwu (Waterford), Rhys Bartley (St Patrick’s Athletic), Luke Kehir (St Patrick’s Athletic), Matthew Moore (Cork City), Danny McGrath (Bohemians), Taylor Mooney (Bohemians), Freddie Turley (Shamrock Rovers)
Forwards: Mason Melia (St Patrick’s Athletic), Matthew Murray (Cork City), Ike Orazi (Shamrock Rovers), Nickson Oksoun (Bohemians), Naj Razi (Shamrock Rovers).
