Oisin Cooney heads to Moldova as Ireland U19s face European Championship qualifiers

Finn Harps goalkeeper Oisin Cooney is in Moldova this week as part of the Republic of Ireland Under-19 squad for the UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifiers.

The Irish squad, under the management of ex-Harps midfielder Tom Mohan, will face Moldova, Azerbaijan and Iceland.

Teams finishing in the top two of the group will progress to next spring’s Elite Round of qualifiers with an opportunity to reach the finals in Romania.

Clonmany teenager Cooney, who recently had a trial at Nottingham Forest, is named in Mohan’s panel.

Cooney and his Harps team-mate Gavin McAteer spent 10 days at Forest having impressed watching scouts.

Cooney has been a regular on the Irish squad of late and was a firm fixture for the Harps first team towards the end of the 2024 season.

The Irish begin their qualifiers on Wednesday in Nisporeni when taking on hosts Moldova before taking on Azerbaijan on Saturday, November 16, in Chisinau, which is also the venue for a clash with Iceland next Tuesday.

“These are three massive games, which we as a group of staff and players, have put a lot of work and preparations into and look forward to the challenges ahead,” Mohan said.

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“No nation can be underestimated and we know we’ll be in for big tests in each of our games.”

“There are very few easy games in international football. You can see the work that is going on from countries who didn’t have the infrastructure in the past. Their facilities are getting better, as are their academy structures, their teams, and their coaching and it is tougher than ever to qualify.