The FAI has marked 100 days to the start of the UEFA U17 European Championships which are being hosted in Ireland this May.
It will be the first time for the Republic of Ireland to host the tournament since 1994 when Turkey defeated Denmark 1-0 in the Final.
Back then it was at U16 level and the Republic of Ireland held England to a 1-1 draw in Tolka Park but did not make it out of the group stage. Four years later though at the same tournament we became European Champions under the managership of Brian Kerr and featuring John O’Shea, Andy Reid and Liam Miller who went onto represent Ireland at senior level.
Colin O’Brien’s Under-17s of 2019 qualify for the tournament as hosts and will be competing in the Finals for the third year in a row.
In 2017 and 2018, Ireland reached the quarter-finals, before narrow defeats to England and the Netherlands.
Ireland will continue their preparations for this year’s tournament with two games away from home in Marbella next month against international opposition, followed by two matches at home against Finland in March.
Waterford’s RSC hosts the opening match of that pair on March 22 at 7 pm, before they meet once more three days later on March 25, in Tallaght Stadium at 1 pm
O’Brien’s team will not know their opponents for the UEFA Under-17 Championships until April 5. The Finals Draw will take place in Dublin, showing the route for all 16 teams to get to the Final on May 19.
Tickets for the tournament will go on sale on www.fai.ie from 22 February at 11am for the General Public. Prices for Adults start at €5, with all Under-16s getting free entry for games.
