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Irish Examiner
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Cork and Dublin to host Republic of Ireland Under-21 Euro qualifiers
Cork and Dublin will each host one of the Republic of Ireland Under-21s's opening two UEFA European Championship qualifiers. The young Boys in Green will play their first home game in 11 months when they take on Andorra in Tallaght Stadium on Tuesday, September 9 before they will then host Slovakia a month later in Turner's Cross on Friday, October 10. Ireland have been drawn against back-to-back European champions England as well as Slovakia, Moldova, Kazakhstan and Andorra in Group D of qualification. Jim Crawford's side played in front of huge crowds of 5,000 plus on three occasions previously with fans getting the chance to see now senior internationals caps Festy Ebosele, Andrew Moran, Rocco Vata, Sinclair Armstrong and Killian Phillips in action. And Crawford admits he is hoping for similar attendances this time around. 'After playing so many games away from home in the last year we're really excited to be back on Irish soil with a new generation of Ireland Under-21s internationals," he said. 'The support we've had in the last few campaigns in Cork and Dublin has been immense. The stats show we're one of the best supported Under-21s international teams in Europe which only reaffirms how much our fans come out to support football in this country. 'I look at those special occasions in Tallaght against Sweden, Montenegro and Bosnia & Herzegovina and the games in Cork against Iceland, Türkiye and Italy and on each occasion the crowd has got us over the line. "They're a young team, with many faces people will recognise from the League of Ireland. The league is seeing a huge surge in crowds and these games are an opportunity for those fans and the communities in both cities to come out and see our boys represent our country.' Ireland Under-21's home 2025 UEFA European U21 Championship Qualifiers Tuesday, September 9 Ireland v Andorra Tallaght Stadium, Dublin Kick-Off 7.30pm Friday, October 10 Ireland v Slovakia Turner's Cross Stadium, Cork Kick-Off 7.30pm.
The Irish Sun
20-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘It's all I ever wanted' reveals Killian Phillips as Ireland star labels text from Heimir Hallgrimsson ‘proudest moment'
KILLIAN PHILLIPS thought the text from Heimir Hallgrimsson a month ago was a wind-up. But now he is out to continue his journey up the football ladder. 2 Killian Phillips earned a first senior Ireland call-up Credit: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile 2 Kristian Arnstad of Norway and Killian Phillips of Republic of Ireland during the UEFA European U21 Championship qualifier Credit: Ben McShane/Sportsfile Phillips, 23, last week earned his first next month. His form at But it was to Phillips, who — despite being named on the stand-by list for the Bulgaria games in March — decided not to get his hopes up. And it was the same when he got a message from a +354 number earlier this month from someone telling Phillips he was Hallgrimsson. Read More on Ireland MNT The player said: 'When he first texted me, I thought it was fake. 'I thought someone was buzzing off me to be honest. 'One of me mates played in Iceland so I was searching up Icelandic numbers and I didn't know. 'I was delighted when it was him. He just spoke to me about coming over to watch me a few times.' Most read in Football Even then, he did not dare to dream. The Dubliner added: 'You never expect these things so I didn't want to get wound up about it. Heimir Hallgrimsson gives first call-up to four Ireland players in squad for friendlies vs Senegal and Luxembourg 'So the day I got called up I was very emotional, it was nice . 'It's a dream come true to be called up to the national team. When you're a kid, it's all you ever wanted to do — to play for Ireland. 'It's all I ever wanted to do when growing up, whether it was Irish schools , amateurs or anything. Just one cap for Ireland. It was the proudest moment of my entire life.' MAKING THE TRANSITION His first call was to his mother Cora who has been an important person throughout his career. Last night after getting back to And if Phillips, who was student of the year in 2019, makes his debut next month, he will be the third graduate of the course to go on to win senior Ireland honours. He admitted that his story would not be told without his year in Corduff. Phillips admitted: 'It's been a mad journey. I think this course was the thing that sent me on the journey. 'That's where I got my confidence. I was one of the only players not playing He had Within a year, he was at Phillips added: 'I came through the academy at Palace and it's tough to break in as an academy player. 'I think it was the right time for everyone for me to go and be a senior professional footballer. 'I spoke to Stephen Robinson before I signed and he told me he'd make me an Ireland international before the season even started. 'I wouldn't have believed him at the time when he said it. I thought he was talking s***e. 'In fairness, he's been true to his word on everything and he's looked after me. 'It's been a perfect move so far as well.' l KILLIAN PHILLIPS spoke at the graduation for the TY Football and Fitness Courses for Boys and Girls run by Fingal County Council and the FAI.
