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Under 21 Player Profiles

Friday, 16 January 2009 13:40
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Ian McLoughlin

Goalkeeper - MK Dons
Born:09/10/1991
Ian McLoughlin

Former Ipswich Town goalkeeper who joined MK Dons this summer.McLoughlin emerged with St FrancisFC in Dublin before moving toPortman Road as a teenager. Madefive appearances in a loan spell atStockport County last season andhas also had a loan spell with nonleague Lowestoft Town. Has two under-21 international caps. Under 21 caps: 6

Aaron McCarey

Goalkeeper - Wolves
Born: 14/01/1992
Aaron McCarey MONAGHAN native who emerged as a keeper of real promise in the Airtricity League with Monaghan United. Former Minor GAA star McCarey was snapped up by Wolves in 2009 and has progressed steadily at Molineux. Recently kept seven

clean sheets in ten competitive appearances for Paul Doolin's

Ireland U19s in their run to the UEFA Championships semi-finals. Has also enjoyed a loan spell at Telford United. Under 21 caps: 1

Enda Stevens

Defender - Shamrock Rovers
Born: 09/07/1990
Enda Stevens DUBLINER Stevens has been one of the most consistent defenders in the Airtricity League in recent seasons. He

made the breakthrough initially with UCD and was then snapped up by his local club St Patrick's Athletic in

2009 by former Saints boss Jeff Kenna. After a single campaign at Richmond Park Stevens made a surprise switch to the Hoops, where he won a league medal in 2010 and a Setanta Sports Cup medal earlier this year. The former Cherry Orchard defender made his U21 debut v Cyprus in February.

Lanre Oyebanjo

Defender - York City
Born: 24/04/90 - Caps: 2 Goals: 0
Lanre LONDON-BORN Lanre qualifies for Ireland through his mother. Can play centre-back or right-back and was first capped at under-19 level under Sean McCaffrey. Quick and strong,

he started his career with West Ham then had a spell at Brentford before joining Conference side Histon

United and making over 150 first team appearances. Joined York City during the summer on a two-year deal. Under 21 caps: 6

Shane Duffy

Defender - Scunthorpe (on loan from Everton)
Born: 01/01/92
Shane Duffy DERRY-BORN Shane will look to make progress in the new season

after a stop-start year due to injuries. The talented defender previously played at underage level for Northern

Ireland before opting to switch to the Republic of Ireland. The former Foyle Harps youngster joined Everton in

2008 and has played twice for the Toffees in the UEFA Europa League. Had a loan spell at Burnley earlier this year. Under 21 caps: 5

Gavin Gunning

Defender - Dundee United
Born: 26/01/91
Gavin Gunning DUBLINER Gunning has been a regular at international level since under-15 level. He played schoolboy football with Ballyogan Celtic, St Joseph's Boys and Crumlin United.

Started his career at Blackburn and had loan spells with Tranmere,Rotherham, Bury and Motherwell. Can play centre-back or left-back and has a wide range of passing and an impressive long range shot. Joined Dundee United last month. Under 21 caps: 5

Mark Connolly

Defender/Midfielder - Bolton
Born: 16/12/1991
Mark Connolly MONAGHAN native Connolly started his career with Wolves before moving to Bolton Wanderers in 2009. Awaiting his first team debut with Owen Coyle's side, he made an

appearance on-loan at St Johnstone last season. Travelled with Bolton's first team to the USA this summer. He played for Ireland at the UEFA U17 Championships finals in 2008 under Sean McCaffrey. Under 21 caps: 6

Greg Cunningham

Defender - Manchester City
Born: 31/01/1991
Greg Cunningham CURRENTLY on-loan at Nottingham Forest. The Galway-born defender started life as a winger and was an impressive performer at underage international level having emerged with Mervue United, where his twin Dan continues to play. Had a loan spell at Leicester last season and has recovered from a bad injury in recent months. Has been capped at senior level by Giovanni Trapattoni. Under 21 caps: 1

Richie Towell

Defender/Midfielder - Celtic
Born: 17/07/91
Richie Towell DUBLINER Richie Towell made his breakthrough in schoolboy football with Crumlin United and has progressed through the underage international ranks. Equally comfortable in midfield or defence, Towell is looking to force his way

into Neil Lennon's plans at Celtic and recently played in the Dublin Super Cup at the Aviva Stadium. Had a successful loan spell with Hibernian in the SPL last season. Under 21 caps: 8

Adam Barton

Midfielder - Preston North End
Born: 07/01/1991
Adam Barton BORN in Blackburn, Adam Barton played senior international football in a friendly for Northern Ireland before

opting to play for the Republic of Ireland. He made his debut for Noel King's U21 side in a friendly against

Portugal in March. Previously with Blackburn Rovers, the midfielder has been a first team regular with Preston and has also had a loan spell with Crawley Town. Under 21 caps: 3

Aaron Greene

Midfielder - Sligo Rovers
Born: 02/01/1990
Aaron Greene GREENE started off with St Francis in schoolboy football then made hismark on an FAI FAS course and was signed by Galway United. He was expected to sign for Dundee United

two years ago but instead joined Bohemians and from there moved on to Sligo Rovers. Started off as a striker but Sligo have used him on the wing and even at left-back. A popular member of Paul Cook's side that retained the FAI Ford Cup last week. Under 21 caps: 2

Jeff Hendrick

Midfielder - Derby
Born: 11/11/88 - Caps: 11 Goals: 2
Jeff Hendrick DUBLINER Hendrick recently starred at the UEFA U19 Championships with Paul Doolin's side where his workrate

and passing ability impressed. The youngster is making steady

progress under Nigel Clough at Pride Park and made four appearances for the Rams last season. Hendrick has

played for Ireland since U15 level and was nominated for the U17 Player of the Year award in 2010. Under 21 caps: 2

Conor Clifford

Midfielder - Chelsea
Born: 01/10/91 - Caps: 3 Goals: 0
Conor Clifford DUBLINER Conor Clifford had his progress rewarded with a senior international call-up against Croatia last month. Has regularly played amongst players at least a year older

than him with his country and always impressed. Played schoolboy with Crumlin United and joined Chelsea in 2007. Has had two loan spells with Plymouth and Notts County. Captained Chelsea's FA Youth Cup winning team in 2010 and won Ireland's U19 Player of the Year earlier this year. Recently joined Yeovil in a loan deal. Under 21 caps: 11

Conor Hourihane

Midfielder - Plymouth
Born: 02/02/1991
Conor Hourihane Hourihane came through the youth ranks at Sunderland but opted to move to Ipswich Town in 2010 when signed by then manager, Roy Keane.  Impressed while on trial at Plymouth and signed a contract in July 2011 and has become a mainstay in midfield for the Pilgrims this season.

Aidan White

Defender/Midfielder - Leeds
Born: 10/10/1991
Aidan White LEEDS-BORN Aidan made his first appearance in an Ireland jersey against Austria last month. The talented youngster was previously capped in a single under-19 appearance for England. He made his first team debut with his hometown club as a 16-year-old and is a regular member of Simon Grayson's squad at Elland Road. Can also play on the left wing. Had a loan spell with Oldham Athletic last season. Under 21 caps: 4

Sean Scannell

Midfielder - Crystal Palace
Born: 17/09/90 - Caps: 6 Goals: 0
scannell Man of the Match against Germany in February, Sean broke into the Crystal Palace team in December 2007 and is regarded as one of the best young prospects in the Championship. Sean made his debut for the Ireland Under-21 team against Montenegro at Terryland Park and has since featured for the Irish B team, as well as being named in Giovanni Trapattoni's senior squad.

Rob Kiernan

Midfielder - Wigan
Born: 13/01/1991
Rob Kiernan WATFORD-BORN Rob Kiernan recently opted to reject a new contract offer from his hometown club and opted to sign for Premier League outfit Wigan Athletic. The talented defender never played a first team game for the Hornets but enjoyed loan spells with Kilmarnock, Yeovil Town, Bradford City and

Wycombe Wanderers. The former U19 international centreback

captained the U21s against Austria. Under 21 caps: 9

Daniel Kearns

Winger - Peterbrough United
Born: 26/08/1991
DKearns BELFAST-BORN winger has recently started to make the breakthrough with Peterborough after a summer move from Dundalk. Had an excellent year at Oriel Park after being released by West Ham United 18 months ago. Starred at the Dublin Super Cup for the Airtricity League XI. Helped the Lilywhites to the Setanta Sports Cup Final earlier this year. Previously capped at underage level by Northern Ireland, he has been capped at U19, U21 and U23 level by the Republic of Ireland. Under 21 caps: 2

.

Terry Dixon

Striker - Bradford City
Born: 15/01/90 - Caps: 2 Goals: 0
Terry created a storm in May 2006 when he was called into the senior squad at the age of just 16. A Spurs player at the time, Dixon then suffered a series of injuries that almost forced him to call time on the game. However, after a spell with West Ham and now Bradford City, the striker is well on the road to recovery.

Karl Sheppard

Striker - Shamrock Rovers
Born: 14/02/1991
Sheppard THE DUBLINER played his schoolboy football at his local club Portmarnock before joining Shelbourne. After playing at underage level for Ireland, he was snapped up by Everton. After three years at Goodison Park the striker joined Galway and was one of the most exciting new talents in the

Airtricity League. He moved to Shamrock Rovers earlier this year. Has impressed with the Hoops in their UEFA Europa League campaign. Under 21 caps: 0

James Collins

Striker - Shrewsbury Town
Born: 01/12/1990
James Collins JAMES COLLINS was drafted into Noel King's Under-21 squad over the weekend after injuries to Aaron Doran and Joe Mason. The Coventry-born striker started his career with Aston Villa and had loan spells with Darlington and Burton

Albion before signing for Shrewsbury Town in January. Scored nine times for the Shrews last season. Capped at under-19 level and was also capped by Don Givens at under-21 level in the past. Under 21 caps: 8

Robbie Brady

Midfielder - Hull City (on loan from Manchester United)
Born: 14/01/1992
Robert Brady DUBLINER Robert Brady recently agreed a loan switch to Hull City from Manchester United until December 31 and scored an

impressive goal in pre-season against Liverpool. Joining a number of ex-Red Devils at Hull including Paul McShane, Joe Dudgeon and Corey Evans. The former St Kevin's Boys choolboy can play up front or on either wing. Has played underage for Ireland from U15 upwards. Under 21 caps: 6

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