First start for Festy

FESTY EBOSELE from Enniscorthy made his international debut for the Republic of Ireland Under-15 soccer team last week, featuring in two friendly games against Poland. The former Moyne Rangers schoolboy, now with St. Joseph’s in Dublin, was selected to start in Lomza on Tuesday and came close to scoring in the first-half of a goal-less draw, pulling his shot wide from a Cian Kelly pass.

Ebosele was replaced at half-time and then, when the sides met again at the same venue two afternoons later, he came on in the 72nd minute of a 2-1 defeat.

Meanwhile, Wexford Youths defender Jess Gleeson has been selected on the final squad of Republic of Ireland Senior women’s manager, Sue Ronan, who is stepping down after six years at the helm.

She will depart after a friendly against the Basque Country on Saturday, November 26. Gleeson, whose brother, Austin, was recently selected as national hurler of the year, is the sole Wexford Youths player on the squad and she is joined by four of the Shelbourne crew who inflicted that 5-0 cup final defeat recently: Amanda McQuillan, Alex Kavanagh, Leanne Kiernan and Noelle Murray.

In other FAI-related news, the 16 participants for the 2016/’18 UEFA Pro Licence coaching course have been confirmed, with the list including former Wexford Youths player Greg Yelverton.

Ex-boss Shane Keegan completed the course - set as the highest coaching qualification in Europe - in 2013.