REPUBLIC of Ireland U19 Head Coach Paul Doolin has named his squad for the forthcoming UEFA U19 Championships Elite Qualifying Round.

Doolin’s side face Iceland on Wednesday, May 28, Turkey on Friday, May 30, and Serbia on Monday, June 2. The winners qualify for the finals in Hungary from July 19 to 31.

The Irish played two friendly games against Mexico U20s last week and lost 3-0 at Tallaght Stadium then 2-0 at Dalymount Park in two testing encounters.

“When we assembled the squad we picked for the Mexico games this week we told the players that it wasn’t necessarily for the elite phase,” Doolin explained.

“When you are putting a squad together for competitive games you are looking for balance – players who can play in more than one position.

“We’ve looked at a few players this week and in recent games. We’ve also brought in players who have done well in the SSE Airtricity League this season. The likes of Ryan Robinson and Ryan Goldsmith did well for us in the Czech Republic with the U18s.

“Injuries cost us Connor Dimaio and Darren Murphy so I feel this is probably the best we can pick from in all concerns on and off the pitch. We couldn’t ask for a more difficult test than the Mexico games to challenge us and that’s what we got.

“The three sides we’re facing in the Elite Phase will be strong as they’ve all come out of their groups. Iceland qualified out of a group including France so that tells you what the challenge will be like.

“In my experience any Elite Phase in UEFA is never easy. We will aim for the Iceland game which is our first fixture and work from there.”

U19 Republic of Ireland Squad:

Eric Grimes (Leeds United FC)

Liam Bossin (RSC Anderlecht)

Noe Baba (Fulham FC)

Sean Long (Reading FC)

Sean Heaney (Shamrock Rovers FC)

Dylan Barnett (Brighton & Hove Albion FC)

Kyle McFadden (Norwich City FC)

Bobby Moseley (Birmingham City FC)

Alan Browne (Preston North End FC)

Steven McCarthy (Sunderland AFC)

Ryan Goldsmith (Cobh Ramblers FC)

Dylan Connolly (Shelbourne FC)

Ryan Robinson (Shelbourne FC)

Thomas Mulroney (St Patrick's Athletic FC)

Liam Kelly (Reading FC)

Alex O'Hanlon (Liverpool FC)

Sam Byrne (Manchester United FC)

Alan O'Sullivan (Aberdeen FC)

FIXTURES

Wednesday, May 28

UEFA U19 Championships Elite Qualifying Round Group Four

Republic of Ireland v Iceland, Tallaght Stadium (7.00pm).

Friday, May 30

UEFA U19 Championships Elite Qualifying Round Group Four

Republic of Ireland v Turkey, Tallaght Stadium (7.00pm).

Monday, June 2

UEFA U19 Championships Elite Qualifying Round Group Four

Republic of Ireland v Serbia, Tallaght Stadium (3.00pm).