Kerr rings changes for under-18s

Just five of the team that lifted the European title in Cyprus last month feature in Brian Kerr's squad of 21 players, named yesterday, for next Wednesday's friendly under-18 international match against England at Tolka Park. The game is all ticket with tickets available from the FAI in Merrion Square.

Dean Delaney, Gary Doherty, Jason Gavin, Ger Crossley and Richie Partridge, four of whom were regular starters in Ayia Napa, are all likely to be key figures in this year's team but they will be joined by a lot of new faces for the friendly, which is Kerr's only opportunity to weigh up his options before returning to competition in October.

"It's really the only chance we have to blend a new team together before the UEFA qualifying mini-tournament with Cyprus, Russia and Poland in Dublin in October," he said. "We'll get all the players back home four or five days before the first of those matches so we'll get to do some work with them, all right but this will be the only chance we have to see them play together."

Aside from the five who are in their second season at this level, three of the team that won the under-16 title in Scotland make the step up to the higher age group with Tranmere goalkeeper Joe Murphy, Shaun Byrne of West Ham and Arsenal's Graham Barrett all coming in.

"After that there's a bit of a mixture," says Kerr, "with a few lads who haven't really been capped at any level before and a few who were in between the two teams last season."

Only one was unavailable for selection for the England game, Celtic goalkeeper James Gallagher again affected by injury problems.

Kerr, meanwhile, plans to hold a couple of seminars for National League managers the week after next with Monday September 7th and Thursday the 10th the most probable dates.

"We're still finalising the venues but the idea is that it will give all of the managers a chance to exchange ideas as well as getting a bit of feedback on what Noel and myself have been picking up on the international scene. Reaction to the idea so far has been very positive." Following the rejection of a proposed takeover bid and the appointment of Gary Brown as the club's new chairman, a further shake-up on the playing side is expected at Shelbourne later this week with the club confirming yesterday that several players are to be transfer listed.

Manager Dermot Keely was reluctant to be drawn on which players are set to depart but said that he will be talking to a number of his squad shortly. Stuart Connolly, who spent much of last season on loan at Tolka Park has completed his move from Tranmere Rovers to Bray Wanderers. The left-sided player is expected to feature in Sunday's league game against Cork after Graeme Cassin, an arrival from Blackburn over the summer, was ruled out for several weeks with a broken bone in his ankle.