Connolly debut inspires Molumby and U-21s for Iceland encounter
IRELAND Under-21 captain Jayson Molumby arrived in Iceland on Saturday just in time to see his Brighton and Hove Albion team-mate Aaron Connolly make his senior international debut.
Connolly’s blistering bow as a substitute was one of the few highlights of the stalemate in Georgia.
His former international team-mates made the most of modern technology to capture the action from Tbilisi.
They’re in Iceland ahead of tomorrow’s Euro qualifier, a win from which would extend their lead at the top of the group.
“Our flight into Reykjavik landed as the game was kicking off, so we had to watch the match on our phones and laptops,” said the 20-year-old Waterford-born midfielder.
“It was brilliant to see Aaron get on the pitch and show what he can do. I don’t think there’s a player like him in the senior squad.”
Molumby is another member of Stephen Kenny’s squad making steady progress at club level. His season-loan move to Millwall has taken flight in recent weeks after an injury stalled his early development there.
“I’ve played the last four of five games,” he explained. “There is a lot of intensity to the Championship but I’ve settled in well. Beating Leeds United in our last game, just a few days after the manager Neil Harris left, was a big boost.”
Molumby has tomorrow’s qualifier against Iceland to navigate before he returns to London ahead of the weekend clash with Brentford.
Top seeds Italy last Thursday ended Ireland’s winning start to the campaign by playing out a scoreless draw at Tallaght Stadium. In contrast to that sell-out crowd, only a few hundred are expected to attend the contest being played in mid-afternoon on an artificial pitch in temperatures lurching downwards towards freezing.
Iceland had also enjoyed a promising start to the campaign by beating Luxembourg and Armenia. That came to an abrupt end on Saturday when second seeds Sweden hammered them 5-0.
“I’m not sure what reaction we’ll get from Iceland but it doesn’t change our plan to beat them,” said Molumby. “We’ve been training on 3G pitches for the last few days. Of course, the surface is different but there won’t be any excuses from our side.”
Along with Connolly, Kenny is missing the suspended Troy Parrott and injured Jonathan Afolabi for the trip. Aaron Drinan and Danny Grant were called up over the weekend but Southampton’s Premier League striker Michael Obafemi could make his first U-21 start.
“We’ve a lot of attacking options and here’s the chance for someone to come in and make their mark,” said the skipper. “We’ll miss the three strikers but there’s depth to the squad.
“This game and next month’s trip to Armenia give us a chance to build up our lead at the top before Sweden come to Tallaght in November. We want to maintain the distance on our rivals.”