Trim teenager set for international soccer debut in poland

Trim teenager Dominic Peppard will be in action for the Republic of Ireland u-15s when he makes his international debut next week against hosts Poland in one of two friendly games.

Dominic played for Trim Celtic (pictured in action in u-12 SFAI Cup game in 2012) in the North Eastern Counties Schoolboys' League and subsequently moved to Dublin club Belvedere.

He was on the Dublin & District Schoolboys' League (DDSL) Kennedy Cup-winning team in June and has since moved to St Jospeh's Boys.

Republic of Ireland u-15 Head Coach Colin O’Brien named his squad yesterady for two friendly games against Poland next week and the Trim player has been included.

The Irish will meet their Polish counterparts on Tuesday next in Mniow (2.30pm) then two days later the sides will meet again in Strawczyn (12.00pm).

“It’s our first time to play Poland at this level so it will be an interesting game for the players to compare themselves with their counterparts from Poland,” said O’Brien.

“This is their first opportunity to play as a side and for us to assess how they carry out what we’ve asked them to do when we have the ball and when the opponents are in possession.

“We’ve spent a lot of time working on identifying and scouting these players. The process includes from the Emerging Talent Programme centres nationwide to the Kennedy Cup competition during the summer where every team was watched at least five times by FAI staff.

“After that, players were brought together for national assessment and from that, 36 players came together and trained - 18 of those players will travel to Poland next week and the other 18 will have another development fixture in the coming weeks.”

Ireland will also face Scotland and the Netherlands at u-15 level this season.


REPUBLIC OF IRELAND U15s SQUAD:

Dominic Peppard (St Joseph’s Boys)

Tom Murphy (St Joseph’s Boys)
Lorcan Callaghan (Strand Celtic)
Thierry Baba (Castlebar Celtic)
Kevin Healy (Belvedere FC)
Lee O’Connor (Villa FC)
Luke Nolan (St Kevin’s Boys)
Joe Dwyer (Tullamore Town)
Aaron Bolger (St Joseph’s Boys)
Charlie Barry (St Francis FC)
Mark Kelly (St Joseph’s Boys)
Jack Owens (Emo Celtic)
Cian Hughes (St Francis FC)
Aaron McColgan (QPS)
Aaron Connolly (Mervue United)
Glen McAuley (St Joseph’s Boys)
Ronan Manning (Mervue United)
Cian Murphy (St Michael’s Boys)

FIXTURES

Tuesday, 11th November

Poland v Republic of Ireland, Mniow Stadium (2.30pm)
Thursday, 13th November
Poland v Republic of Ireland, Strawczyn Stadium (12.00pm)