Republic of Ireland hand first senior call-ups to four players for friendlies
PA Sport Staff
Crystal Palace midfielder Killian Phillips, Shamrock Rovers defender Josh Honohan, Reims’ John Joe Patrick Finn and Tottenham goalkeeper Josh Keeley have all been handed first senior call-ups for the Republic of Ireland’s June friendlies against Senegal and Luxembourg.
Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson had already made it clear he would not bring any Sky Bet Championship players into the group, with the fixtures coming a month after the end of the regular season.
Hallgrimsson has instead opted to hand others a chance, with 23-year-old Phillips, who spent the campaign on loan in Scotland with St Mirren, stepping up from the Under-21s.
Honohan, 24, helped Shamrock Rovers reach the knockout stages of the Conference League for the first time and was reported to have been in contention for the Nations League games against Bulgaria in March.
Born in Spain, midfielder Finn, 21, started his career at Real Madrid before joining Getafe, and has previously represented the Republic at Under-19 level as well as being called up for the Under-21s.
Keeley, 21, has been on loan at Leyton Orient, with the League One side having gone on to make the play-offs.
A home game against Senegal on June 6th will be followed by a trip to Luxembourg on June 10th.
Goalkeepers: Caoimhín Kelleher (Liverpool), Max O'Leary (Bristol City), Josh Keeley (Leyton Orient, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur).
Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Nathan Collins (Brentford), Dara O'Shea (Ipswich Town), Jake O'Brien (Everton), Andrew Omobamidele (Strasbourg, on loan from Nottingham Forest), Liam Scales (Celtic), Robbie Brady (Preston North End).
Midfielders: Jason Knight (Bristol City), Killian Phillips (St. Mirren, on loan from Crystal Palace), Will Smallbone (Southampton), Jack Taylor (Ipswich Town), John Joe Patrick Finn (Stade De Reims).
Forwards: Troy Parrott (AZ Alkmaar), Evan Ferguson (West Ham United, on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion), Adam Idah (Celtic), Sammie Szmodics (Ipswich Town), Kasey McAteer (Leicester City), Festy Ebosele (Istanbul Basaksehir), Ryan Manning (Southampton).