Ireland Will Boast a Fresh-Looking Squad Against Grenada

Despite Heimar Hallgrimmson’s Republic of Ireland failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after losing to Czechia in March, Irish fans will see a fresh squad head to Spain for a training camp where they will face Grenada in the Enrique Rocca in Murcia on Saturday, the 16th of May, with several uncapped players announced in the squad.

There are 7 first-time call-ups to the squad. They include Leyton Orient Goalkeeper Ollie Cahill, Sheffield Wednesday’s Tayo Ardmalo, Cardiff City’s Joel Bagan, Blackburn’s Eiran Cashin, Oxford’s Aidomo Emaku, Lincoln’s Jack Moylan, and Benfica’s Jaden Umeh. It will be significantly interesting to see how these players play, should they get game time in the summer friendly.

9 of the players in this squad have progressed to the English Leagues from Ireland’s National League, “The League of Ireland”. Chio Ogbene and Umeh played for Cork City FC, Andrew Moran played for Bray Wanderers, James Abankwah lifted the FAI Cup with St Patrick’s Athletic, Jason Knight played for Cabinteely (now a youth side), Josh Keely also played for Pats, (the Goalkeeper showed potential in past U21 Ireland games), Cahill and Emakhu played for Current League of Ireland Champions, Shamrock Rovers and Moylan played for Shelbourne.

There is certainly a good look for the League of Ireland in this squad in terms of producing future international prospects. In particular, Jaden Umeh looks to be the most exciting player in this squad. Umeh progressed through the Cork City FC academy. The academy at the Munster club is noted for producing a standard of players, players such as Shane Long, Jake O’Brien, David Meyler and Alan Browne are some of the names that came through the academy as well as current Cork City player, Cillian Murphy who is playing regularly for 90 minutes at the age of 16 for Cork City’s senior team and may well be a prospect for the future.