Sweeney: The squad are flying
RYAN SWEENEY is convinced Saturday’s unconvincing win over Kosovo blew the cobwebs off the latest batch of Ireland Under-21s. Noel King’s side were fortunate to clinch three points from their opening UEFA qualifier at Tallaght thanks to Olamide Shodipo’s winner as Kosovo twice struck the upright. The QPR winger, currently on loan at Port Vale, bundled the ball over the line from close-range 11 minutes into the second half after Sean Donnellan and Harry Charsley had worked goalkeeper Visar Bekaj from a corner. Ireland are not in action again until September when they visit Azerbaijan and Stoke man Sweeney, currently on loan at Bristol Rovers, believes they’ll be better with the passing of time. “I thought it was a bit scrappy game,” admitted the towering centre-back. “Kosovo made it difficult for us but, in fairness you know, these are the games you have to grind down and get the three points. “It’s a new group of players and we only had our first games together in November. “Still, if we had taken our chances, we’d have scored another couple of goals and won more comfortably.” Martin O’neill and Roy Keane were amongst the sparse attendance at Tallaght and Sweeney’s ultimate aim is to progress into the senior fold. “My grandparents on my Dad’s side are from Mullingar and were at a game on Saturday,” he explained. “A couple of other lads from the last under-21 squad have moved up to the seniors and I’ll see where my performances for this team take me.”