The collective spirit within the Ireland squad is driving them on as they prepare to face Malta in their second game in a UEFA Regions’ Cup series in Cork.

Ireland are aiming to bounce back after losing 2-1 to Belarus last Sunday in the Munster FA Turner’s Cross Stadium. So getting back on the pitch on Wednesday night in the same venue cannot come quick enough.

The Ireland squad is represented by the Munster region – after they won the FAI Amateur Inter-Provincial Tournament in March 2026 – and they are hoping to advance to the Finals Tournament.

Captain Sean Guerins believes the unity that has been built amongst the Ireland players is their greatest strength. It was on show against Belarus and stretches back to when the first trial games to make the Munster panel in December 2025.

Tipperary native Guerins, who plays his club football for BT Harps, insists that the bond forged comes from the dedication that each of the 18 players in the Ireland squad have put in to reach this stage.

“People might think that you are making a sacrifice for this week because this is when the games are on, but that sacrifice started last year. It started with that first trial game but it has been all the way through with the Inter-Pros games in Letterkenny, then trying to make the final squad of 18 and all of the different training sessions,” said Guerins.

“I think this group of players has bought into this for a long time now and the togetherness that’s there is just unbelievable. It’s a massive part of this team.

“We keep each other on edge and that is in fairness to the management. They have made it clear that everyone is fighting for the jersey for every game. And all of the lads have bought into that in every training session and the level of commitment everyone has put into all of it.

“If you don’t have that then that is when questions start getting asked. We actually had a training session in Rockmount and it was in a middle of a storm; the rain and the wind was unreal. The players turned up and thought ‘oh Jesus’. But we all got with it, that intensity was still there and everyone was driving each other on. That feeds into the thing, you know the player beside you will do anything to get a result.”

Former Treaty United defender Guerins has been charged with the responsibilities of being team captain, but he revealed that his job becomes very straightforward when working with a group of players who are all ready to fight for each other.

“Even in life in general I like looking after people and I’ll always try to help as much as I can. So to be captain of the team is an absolute honour,” said Guerins.

“I know that a lot of good people and good players have come before me. When I got that first call from Paul Breen, who was part of the management team, to come down to the trials, I put everything into it but I didn’t think it would reach to this point.

“With this team I don’t need to motivate fellas. This group and this bunch of players, they just know what they have to do. So I’m just part of that and I’ll do everything that I can but it’s very much everyone in this together and all being motivated by the same thing.”

Ireland will be pushing to get their first win of this series when they take on Malta on Wednesday night before finishing up against Croatia on Saturday, November 7th.

Tickets for each of Ireland’s games will be available at the stadium, priced at €10 adults, €5 Under-16 / OAP, and Free for Under-12s.

Ireland Regions’ Cup Squad
Goalkeepers: Craig Dunphy (Villa), Shane Hallahan (Midleton)

Defenders: Jake Dillon (Fairview Rangers), Jason Cross (Fairview Rangers), Sean Guerins (BT Harps), John Tamen (Villa), Cian Murphy (Rockmount), Christopher McCarthy (Ringmahon Rangers) 

Midfielders: Adam Conway (Villa), Matt Keane (Killarney Celtic), Conor Kilgannon (Villa), Conor Coughlan (Aisling Annacotty), Jamie O’Sullivan (Ringmahon Rangers), Keelan Crowley (College Corinthians)

Forwards: Eoin Hayes (Newmarket Celtic), Jack Cairns (Ringmahon Rangers), Luke Casey (Coachford), Eoin Murphy (Rockmount)

Staff: Jason Purcell (Head Coach), Stewart Fitzgerald (Assistant Head Coach), Greg Foley, Paul Breen (Coaches), Michael Costello (Goalkeeping Coach), Dr. Garret Linehan (Team Doctor), Pearse Foley (Physio), Tadgh O’Neill (Equipment Manager), Barry Cotter (Team Operations Manager)

UEFA Regions’ Cup Fixtures / Results – Group 8
Sunday, November 1st | Belarus 2-1 Ireland
Wednesday, November 4th | Ireland v Malta | Munster FA Turner's Cross Stadium | KO 19:30
Saturday, November 7th | Ireland v Croatia | Munster FA Turner's Cross Stadium | KO 15:00