Griffin and Brennan selected for UEFA Regions finals
THE Republic of Ireland Amateur International team was named ahead of the upcoming UEFA Regions Cup finals in Turkey and there are two Sligo players on the panel.
Conor Griffin, of Calry Bohs and Ballymote native Niall Brennan, who plays for Boyle Celtic, are both selected for the July tournament. Both featured and scored for their country in a recent friendly with Jersey.
Team manager Gerry Davis revealed his squad on Tuesday for the forthcoming UEFA Regions Cup Finals in Turkey.
Conor, who was named as the Sligo Champion Men’s Sportsperson of the Year at the Sligo Sports Awards, became the first player from Connacht selected for the Regions Cup squad last year.
The Calry native is an accomplished GAA player too, having featured for Calry/ St Joseph’s, Sligo and also in hurling.
Ballymote’s Niall enjoyed a memorable season with Boyle Celtic, his brother Gerry is also part of the team, which made history by becoming the first Sligo/ Leitrim side to reach the semi- finals of the FAI Junior Cup, where they went out on penalties to Evergreen from Kilkenny.
For July’s UEFA Regions Cup finals, the Connacht Munster side will face Russia representatives South Region on Saturday, July 1, then meet Spanish representatives Castilla y Leon on Monday, July 3,.
The group concludes against Czech side Olomouc on Thursday, July 6.
The group winners will progress to the final.
Ireland are the current holders of the UEFA Regions Cup following their success with the Leinster Munster selection in Dublin two years ago.
Davis’s extended squad came together for two friendly games against Jersey recently. They won 5- 2 at Jackman Park, Limerick, on the Saturday and then 2- 1 in Frank Cooke Park, Tipperary, the following day.
Boyle Celtic’s Niall Brennan scored twice, Westport’s David Hoban, Calry Bohs’ Conor Griffin and Jimmy Carr of St Michael’s found the net on Saturday while Cobh Wanderers striker Ian Stapleton and Newmarket Celtic’s Eoin Hayes scored in the second fixture. The Irish boss believes those games ensured all of the squad got the opportunity to stake their claim for a place in the final 20 travelling to Istan- bul.“We’ve had a look at a lot of players and people who’ve done well this season for their clubs have shown that they can come through. Niall Brennan was part of the Boyle Celtic side that did so well and Chis Smith from Abbeyfeale was the first Desmond League player included at this level,” he added.