Robert Brady scored both goals for Ireland, one through a penalty, in their 2-1 win over the team from the Dublin Schoolboy League.

Manager Vincent Butler and his 18-man squad fly out to the Middle-East on Saturday for the three-game trip from the 7th - 11th January.

Butler was glad to see his charges back in action on Tuesday following the Christmas break.

He said: “From experience, the period over Christmas takes a lot out of the players. Most of them hadn’t played any football for a month and it was vital to get them back into fitness before we go to Qatar.”

“We were facing Belvedere’s team who were a year older than our lads. The first-half was a bit sloppy but they soon got it together and looked comfortable in the second half.”

Ireland will play three games against the Aspire Academy in Qatar. Butler is of the belief that these matches will provide vital experience to the Irish squad as well as presenting him with a measure of how good the players at his disposal are.

“This will be a difficult test for us. The opposition are a year older than us and the weather conditions will be warm. That suits us down to the ground because we’ll learn about the ability of our players to perform in such a tough scenario.”

“The Aspire Academy was set-up to focus on the development of young sportspeople in the area,” continued Butler. “They also have a scholarship scheme in place whereby talented players from Africa train there for a few years. They then have the opportunity of becoming naturalised Qatar nationals and play for their senior International team, if good enough.”

“They seem to rise to the challenge of playing against teams from Europe because they have defeated Glasgow Celtic and Charlton Athletic from their own age-group already.”

“We have two tri-nations tournaments coming up after this in May – one in Switzerland and the other in Dublin. The schedule of matches should give me an indication of what we have in the squad and also see maybe where we are lacking.”

Ireland began their season in encouraging fashion in November, playing out a scoreless draw against a strong Holland side in Dublin. Butler made nine changes to his starting line-up for the second game against the Dutch, played two days later, and the visitors won 2-0 through two second half goals.

17 of the players who featured against Holland have been picked for the games in Qatar. Jordan Phillpott, an exciting winger from Cork club Kilreen Celtic, has also been included.

Under 15 Fixtures:
Sunday, 7th January 2007
Aspire v Republic of Ireland (17.00hrs local, 14.00 hrs Irish time)

Tuesday 9th January 2007
Aspire v Republic of Ireland (17.00hrs local, 14.00hrs Irish time)

Thursday 11th January 2007
Aspire v Republic of Ireland (16.00 hrs local, 13.00hrs Irish time)

Republic of Ireland Squad
Jean Biamsumba (Confey)
Robert Brady (St. Kevins Boys)
Jack Carty (Hodson Bay)
Matt Doherty (Belvedere)
Rory Gartlan (Renmore)
Jeffrey Hendrick (St. Kevins Boys)
Daniel Joyce (Belvedere)
Ethan Mannion (St. Kevins Boys)
Stephen O'Donnell (Quay Celtic)
Conor Murphy (St. Kevins Boys)
Jordan Phillpott (Kilreen Celtic)
Craig Sexton (Belvedere)
Sean Skelly (Belvedere)
Leigh Swords (Belvedere)
Gareth Wallace (Wexford Albion)
Eoin Wearan (St. Kevins Boys)
Paul Whyte (Ballinroad)
Keith Wright (WFTA)

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