Ireland U21

Jim Crawford's side will do battle with Montenegro tonight in their Euro 2023 qualifier.

Montenegro are able to clear but Ireland are enjoying a sustained spell of possession in this match - promising signs. Ireland try another traning ground move from a free-kick. Ireland 0-0 Montenegro And what a goal! Stay with us for the second half. Some impact from Ferguson and Ireland are firmly in control now. Will Smallbone's brilliant goal is separating the sides. Gavin Kilkenny and Evan Ferguson come on in their place. Ireland were coasting but need to see out this job now. Montenegro threatned some kind of comeback with a goal in the 77th minute but Ireland were able to finish off the game in good style. It means Ireland get another free from just outside the box. Unselfish play from Smallbone who could have taken on the shot himself.

Ireland U21 international Mark McGuinness is well-versed to big games, and his latest with the young Boys in Green is set to be no different.

“We’re going to have to grind out games and get three points or a point. They are massive for us and I would love to finish up with the U21s on a high.” “You adapt to the level, and you play against good players and teams. We all know what it’s like and everyone is developing and playing at a good level of football.” Obviously, we want to be playing some nice football all the time, but that’s not [always] going to happen. You can read up on all the TV details here. “Everyone’s playing a high level, so everyone drives each other.” “We’ve got ourselves in a fantastic position. “It’s a great level,” he adds. “We would definitely like to see more guys go up, even myself. “Every game I feel like I improve,” he explained. “It’s relentless and I’ve got 35 games in the end, which was great for me.

The Republic of Ireland U21s host Montenegro in a European Championship qualifier as Jim Crawford's side look to take another step towards the goal of ...

Conor Noss and Will Smallbone combined to inspire Ireland's U21s to the brink of a European Championship play-off berth.

Later on in the game he then put on a passing exhibition of his own, taking up from the mantle left by Noss. Against Bosnia, the 22-year-old was the star of the show from a more advanced position, but he equally excelled from a deeper position against Montenegro. With Ireland lagging in attack, Smallbone proved to be source of divine inspiration that the young Boys in Green needed during a flat opening period. Taking up a role in the playmaker position, the German-born midfielder was one of Ireland’s few bright sparks in a relatively dour first-half, until the opener of course. After being forced to wait for his chance to arrive at Borussia Monchengladbach this season, Noss showed a glimpse of the talents he undoubtedly possesses in front of the Tallaght Stadium crowd. Conor Noss and Will Smallbone combined to inspire Ireland’s U21s to the brink of securing a European Championship play-off berth, seeing off Montenegro by three goals to one at Tallaght Stadium.

Unless second seeds Sweden beat the Italians on Thursday, then the runner-up berth and play-off place is Irelands.

A draw in that fixture in Ascoli would also afford Ireland the dizzying opportunity of travelling to Ascoli for the final match on Tuesday week with group victory to play for. Once again, Will Smallbone was the architect in chief of the triumph – thumping in the opener four minutes before the break and setting up a second for Liam Kerrigan on 56 minutes. Ireland are on the brink of clinching their first-ever U21 Euro play-off after a second swashbuckling win in the space of four days.

There were U21 debuts for Derby County's Eiran Cashin and Tayo Adaramola of Crystal Palace, while Conor Noss, Joshua Kayode and Liam Kerrigan were also handed ...

Good hold-up play by Kayode set up Smallbone on the edge of the area, and the Southampton midfielder took a touch on his chest before unleashing a stunning low strike that arrowed into the corner of the net. Ognjen Gasevic 18. Peter Vukcevic 16. Ivan Vukcevic (Mijovic 60) 20. Ireland then made it three in stylish fashion in the 67th minute. Peter Radulovic 6. Nikola Janjic (Vukcevic 69) 11. Milos Brnovic (Krstovic 60) 19. In the 41st minute, a set-piece into the area was only half-cleared. Joshua Kayode (Ferguson 64) Conor Noss (Kilkenny 64) 18. It was easier said than done, however, and Montenegro threatened early on.

SOUTHAMPTON man Will Smallbone is proving to be the man for the big occasion for a classy-looking Republic of Ireland U21s as they are close to securing a ...

The German-born Irish prospect Conor Noss became more of an influence as the game wore on, and he lurked with intent at the end of a good move involving Tyreik Wright and Liam Kerrigan on 17 minutes. However, a win for Sweden at home to the Italians could complicate things and leave Ireland needing to get something from their final group game, in Ascoli next week, but qualification is still there. Montenegro enjoyed long spells of possession and right back Lee O'Connor, winning his 22nd cap at this level, was a busy man as the away side posed a threat. And on 67 minutes it was 3-0 with another impressive attacking move. Smallbone, who qualifies through his Kilkenny-born mother, had a testing season at club level with injury and illness but he's well and truly delivering for the Irish U21s, scoring one goal and playing a role in a second. Ireland have an encouraging spread of talent from across Irish football's talent pool, evidence of that in goals scored by natives of Sligo, Cork and Hampshire and a stellar display from a German-born recruit.

'Once Will gets settled in his club and plays consistently, there is every chance he'll get called up to the senior squad'

But I do think the group of players here really deserve big crowds.” That, according to Crawford, may be at a different venue. “I’m sure there are factors, but we’ll see what happens with the play-off games. A draw in that fixture would also afford Ireland the dizzying opportunity of travelling to Ascoli for the final match on Tuesday week with group victory to play for. Once again, Will Smallbone was the architect in chief of the triumph – thumping in the opener four minutes before the break and setting up a second for Liam Kerrigan on 56 minutes. Two days after one of the worst results in the history of the senior international team, the U21 pushed themselves on track to create a better type of history.

Republic of Ireland kept alive their dream of making it to the European U21s Championship finals for the first time a 3-1 victory over Montenegro; ...

Ireland U21 boss Jim Crawford hailed his young stars, as they moved to the brink of qualification for a European Championship play-off berth.

And same goes with Italy. Even if it does become a dead rubber, you’ll get a playoff but we’ll be going over there to win, to keep this momentum that the group have. I think the easy thing would be the same XI starts that played against Bosnia but we just felt we needed to freshen it up and it shows the group that was out. “There’s no doubt about it.