International action

NOW THAT Friday’s Wexford Youths league game away to Bohemians has been postponed, some local followers will no doubt make their way to the R.S.C. in Waterford where the Republic of Ireland Under-21 team will take on Slovenia in the first of two UEFA Championship qualifying round games in September.

The Wexford interest will be supplied by Kevin O’Connor of Cork City and once of Curracloe United, one of four players from the SSE Airtricity Premier Division on the squad along with clubmate Seán Maguire, Dylan Connolly (Bray Wanderers) and Seán Hoare (St. Patrick’s Athletic).

After Friday’s game, they will travel to Novi Sad for the first of backto-back meetings with Serbia on Tuesday, September 6 (5 p.m.).

Meanwhile, Gorey’s Conor Levingston scored the first goal as the Republic of Ireland Under-18 side beat Hungary in an international tournament in Kastvallen, Sweden, on Friday.

The Wolverhampton Wanderers clubman struck in the 27th minute following a corner.

Levingston has also been included in the Under-19 squad for two friendlies against Austria in Tallaght on September 4 and 6 along with ex-Good Counsel all-rounder Thomas O’Connor from Southampton.

The involvement of the two O’Connors and Levingston with their country is superb news for Wexford, especially at a time when Kevin Doyle’s distinguished career in the international Senior jersey is clearly at the end.

There was disappointment locally when his name was absent from Martin O’Neill’s squad for the Oman and Serbia games, but he has given us some great memories through the years.