Thomas gets the call

THERE WAS great news for former Good Counsel (New Ross) all-rounder Thomas O’Connor when he was named in a Republic of Ireland Under-21 football squad for the first time. Thomas, the son of two Wexford parents, played his G.A.A. with Tullogher-Rosbercon and various Kilkenny under-age teams, but he has forged a fine career for himself as a professional footballer.

A key member of the Southampton Under-23 squad in recent seasons, he was loaned to Gillingham at the start of this campaign and has been a regular in their first eleven as he continues to learn his trade at League One level.

With captain Jayson Molumby and defender Lee O’Connor suspended for the first of two qualifiers against Armenia in Yerevan on Thursday, Thomas was one of three players called up by manager Stephen Kenny for the first time along with Jack Clarke of Aston Villa and Hearts striker Aidan Keena.

The team will be at home to Sweden in Tallaght on Tuesday, November 19, at 8 p.m.

Meanwhile, Enniscorthy’s Festy Ebosele, the Derby County midfielder, has been included once again in the Under-19 squad by head coach Tom Mohan for qualifiers against Switzerland, Gibraltar and Austria in the latter country this week.

And Wexford Youths star striker Rianna Jarrett is in Athens today (Tuesday) where the Senior women are taking on Greece in a Euro 2021 qualifier at 1 p.m.

In other soccer news, not that it makes any difference, but Wexford F.C. are no longer officially the last-placed club in the 2019 SSE Airtricity First Division.

That’s because Limerick F.C. have been sanctioned by the independent club licensing committee and deducted 26 points following the appointment of an examiner by the High Court in September.