Republic of Ireland Men’s Under-17s have qualified for the 2026 FIFA Under-17s World Cup in Qatar after a stunning 7-0 victory over Slovakia.

A hat-trick from Cork City’s Cillian Murphy along with goals from Ryan Sheridan, Josh Harpur, Joey Wuna and Desmond Armstrong saw the young Boys in Green finish as one of the best runners-up in European Qualifiers to earn a spot at the tournament.

Ireland, coached in these qualifiers by Mark Connors, needed to win and for Poland to beat Croatia to book a place at the European Championships in Estonia. And Poland did their bit leading 1-0 until the 73^rd minute until Croatia got the equaliser and the point to seal their spot at both tournaments.

It had been looking likely that Ireland could have been heading to Estonia and Qatar when they raced into a 4-0 lead by half time. Murphy hit a 21-minute hat-trick in the process and St. Patrick’s Athletic’s Sheridan was also on target in the first half.

Bohemians’ Josh Harpur, Shelbourne’s Wuna and former Shamrock Rovers’ forward Armstrong added to the goals in the second-half as Ireland wracked-up a plus 10 goal difference and six points. 

Ireland return to the World Cup finals after reaching the last 16 of the competition last year.

This 2009-age group now have the same opportunity to impress on the world stage having come through qualification scoring 17 goals and conceding just twice in their six qualification matches. 

Slovakia: Klanin, Cingel (Ivan, 46’), Liska, Durko, Zemko (Jan Mirko, 55’), Duraj, Kosco (Ivan, 46’), Hofstader, Charamza (Sevcik, 74’), Prekop, Tomasko (Masarik, 55’).

Ireland: Brunton, Burke, Quigley (Ilguna, 77’), Sheridan, Spaight, McGrath (C), O’Dwyer (Spelman, 59’), Murphy (Afonin, 70’), Ozhianvuna (Dunne, 70’), Wuna, Harpur (Armstrong, 59’).

Referee: Miloš Savović (Montenegro)

UEFA European Under-17 Championship Qualifiers
Wednesday, March 25 | Ireland 3-0 Poland
Saturday, March 28 |Ireland 0-2 Croatia
Tuesday, March 31 | Slovakia 0-7 Ireland

Republic of Ireland Men's Under-17s Squad

Goalkeepers: Darragh Brunton (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Xander Grieves (Wolves)*

Defenders: Maxim Afonin (Shamrock Rovers), Danny Burke (Shamrock Rovers), Glenn Ilunga (Burnley), Tadgh Prizeman (Shamrock Rovers), Sean Spaight (Dundalk).

Midfielders: Tom McGrath (Cork City), Cillian Murphy (Cork City), Victor Ozhianvuna (Shamrock Rovers), Josh O’Dwyer (Shamrock Rovers), Ryan Sheridan (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Jason Spelman (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Kian Quigley (St. Patrick’s
Athletic).
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Forwards: Desmond Armstrong (FC Lorient), Joe Byrne (St. Patrick’s Athletic), David Dunne (AS Monaco), Josh Harpur (Bohemians), Joey Ikala Wuna (Shelbourne), Hugh Martin (Bohemians).

* Replaced George Moloney (Southampton)