WORLD IS THEIR OYSTER

Gaffer O'Brien raring to go as Ireland's Under-17s get ready to take on the globe

- BY GARRY DOYLE

FIVE of Ireland's brightest young footballers found out yesterday that they would miss out on this year's FAI Cup final DESPITE their clubs reaching the decider.

The Shamrock Rovers and Cork City quintet are not heading to the Aviva because they have been included in the Ireland squad to play in next month's Under-17 World Cup in Qatar.

“What we are doing is historic,” said Ireland manager Colin O'Brien. “No Irish team has gone here before at this age range.

“In men’s football, you have World Cups at three levels: Under-17, Under-20 and senior. It's rare for any Irish men’s team to reach it.

‘We came close twice before as Under-17s. Not meaning to drop names but Lamine Yamal stopped us the last time.

“In 2017 a de facto playoff saw England (who had Jadon Sancho, Conor Gallagher, Marc Guehi and Phil Foden in their squad) stop us.

“So, to reach the World Cup finals is difficult. You only have to look at the teams who didn't make it into this tournament: Spain, the Netherlands. It's brilliant for the 21 players who have been selected and brilliant also for the profile of their respective clubs”