Lonergan and Akachukwu included in Ireland Under 21 squad for crunch fixtures
Waterford FC's Tommy Lonergan has been named in Ireland Under 21 squad. Photos: INPHO
Waterford FC striker Tommy Lonergan and Waterford native Romeo Akachukwu, who is now plying his trade on loan at Colchester United, have been named in the Republic of Ireland Men’s Under-21 squad ahead of two crucial U21 EURO Qualifiers against Moldova and Kazakhstan.
Benfica’s Jaden Umeh, Shamrock Rovers’ Adam Brennan, Malaga’s Aaron Ochoa-Moloney and Reading’s Sean Patton are named in an Under-21s squad for the first time.
Sheffield Wednesday’s Gabriel Otegbayo, Chesterfield’s Sam Curtis, Ipswich Town’s Leon Ayinde and Shamrock Rovers’ Cory O’Sullivan all return to the squad.
Crawford will be without his captain James Abankwah who has become the latest player to make the step-up to the senior squad from the Under-21s following strong performances for Watford.
Ireland return to Dublin for the first time since September 2025 when they take on Moldova on Thursday, March 26 at Tallaght Stadium.
Tickets for the Group D UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifier are available from Ticketmaster.
The squad then head to Kazakhstan for their second game of the international window on Tuesday, March 31.
Goalkeepers: Noah Jauny (Stade Reims), Aaron Maguire (Hampton & Richmond Borough, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Conor Walsh (Shelbourne).
Defenders: Sam Curtis (Chesterfield), Cathal McCarthy (Hull City), Conor McManus (Brentford), Alex Murphy (Newcastle United), Cory O’Sullivan (Shamrock Rovers), David Okagbue (Peterborough United), Gabriel Otegbayo (Sheffield Wednesday).
Midfielders: Romeo Akachukwu (Colchester United, on loan from Southampton), Jacob Devaney (St Mirren, on loan from Manchester United), Darius Lipsiuc (Solihull Moors, on loan from Stoke City), Jack Moorhouse (Manchester United), Jamie Mullins (Wycombe Wanderers), Aaron Ochoa Moloney (Malaga).
Forwards: Leon Ayinde (Ipswich Town), Adam Brennan (Shamrock Rovers), Trent Kone Doherty (Molde), Tommy Lonergan (Waterford), Michael Noonan (Shamrock Rovers), Sean Patton (Reading), Jaden Umeh (Benfica).
Thursday, March 26 | Ireland MU21 v Moldova MU21, Tallaght Stadium, KO 17:15 (Live on Virgin Media) Tuesday, March 31| Kazakhstan MU21 v Ireland MU21, Turkestan Arena, KO 15:00 (Local 20:00)
