Keane hails support as €1.5m raised in Miller tribute
FAI and IFA to unite in bid to host U21 Euros
Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland would automatically qualify for the 12-team finals for the first time. It remains to be seen if Noel King continues as the Republic of Ireland U21 boss after eight and a half years at the helm. The joint bid reflects the strong relations between the two associations ahead of the senior friendly international in the Aviva Stadium on November 15. Republic boss Martin O’Neill will announce his provisional squad for that game, and the Nations League finale away to Denmark on November 19, on Tuesday next in Dublin. Seamus Coleman, Robbie Brady, James McCarthy and Aiden McGeady, who scored for Sunderland on his first start of the season last weekend, could all return. Meanwhile, Roy Keane last night acknowledged the ‘amazing’ support which helped raise €1.5m from the Liam Miller Tribute match last month. The bulk of that sum, €1m, will be placed in a Trust for the young family of the former Ireland midfielder who died of cancer in February. Keane, who will serve as one of four trustees, said ‘the response from the public towards the Miller family is truly amazing. ‘Everyone involved in the game is delighted with the amount raised, which will benefit so many people,’ added the Ireland assistant manager. In a worthy example of openness, the breakdown of the other beneficiaries was revealed by the match committee. The Marymount Hospice, Cork, where Miller was cared for in his final days, will receive €250,000, with a further €100,000 going to the Jack O’Driscoll Fund to help the 20-year-old from Mayfield who was paralysed in a freak fall during Storm Emma in March. The remaining €150,000 will be split among a number of worthy causes, including Cork Simon Community, Cork Penny Dinners and Down Syndrome Cork.
THE FAI and IFA are joining forces to apply to co-host the UEFA Under 21 Championship finals.
FAI chief executive John Delaney and his IFA counterpart Patrick Nelson have called a press conference in Windsor Park tomorrow to announce details of the bid, for either the 2021 or the 2023 finals.
While the FAI declined to comment on the speculation last night, a decision on the 2021 hosts is due from UEFA at their next executive meeting — in Dublin on December 3, the day after the draw for the Euro 2020 qualifiers.
The key to delivering a successful U21 bid is infrastructure.
For the fortnight-long finals in Italy next summer (June 16-30), six stadiums in a north-east geographical cluster are being used, with capacities ranging from 23,700 to 38,200. A sixth, in San Marino, with a capacity of 6,600, will also stage games.
If the all-Ireland bid is to be successful, both the