John Fallon: Ten under 10 caps who can lift Ireland from their slumber
A NEW year brings new expectations on new candidates to resuscitate Ireland’s ailing men’s team.
After such an underwhelming 2023 and with limited competitive action this year, it is opportune for potential to nurture into an end product.
For various reasons, 2024 may come too soon for the likes of Eiran Cashin, Luke McNally, Sinclair Armstrong, Calum Kavanagh, and Kasey McAteer to make an impression on the incoming Ireland boss but others either on the periphery or margins of the squad under Stephen Kenny have much to prove.
Evan Ferguson has reached double-digits of caps and here we look at 10 players with less than 10 caps threatening to push their way into the reckoning to be regulars.
Four friendlies over March and June, the first double at home to Belgium and Switzerland, followed by six Nations League qualifiers between September and November, will provide the stage for this coterie to lay out their credentials.
DEFENDERS
Festy Ebosele: Age 21. Caps: 2:
Right-back has been well catered for in the past decade but with Séamus Coleman now 35 and Matt Doherty about to turn 32, an heir is necessary.
Ebosele began his career as a winger only to be converted into a defensive ram by Wayne Rooney at Derby County, a role he’s flourished in for Udinese in Serie A. Two cameos in the September double-header against France and Netherlands marked his introduction to the senior fray, but it was a mystery why he was left unused in the next window. A new gaffer will surely rectify that injustice.
Andrew Omobamidele. Age: 21 Caps: 6.
Ireland’s last outing, the 1-1 draw against New Zealand, carried significance for being Omobamidele’s first 90 minutes in an Ireland jersey for two years. He’s won just six caps over an
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