It's four years since the Republic of Ireland reached the dizzy heights of winning both the UEFA Under-16 and Under-18 Championships in the same season.

This year's tournament at the older age level, which begins in Norway tomorrow, presents manager Brian Kerr with his best chance since of emulating those remarkable feats.

While the under-18s of 1999 achieved third place in Sweden, and the same age group of a year later lost narrowly in a qualifying play-off to eventual winners France, not since 1998 has an Irish side entered the finals of a youths championship - following another qualifying failure last year - with the confidence Kerr's current under-19s carry with them to Oslo for this year's finals.

Offically the first UEFA Under-19 finals - strictly speaking the 24th - it certainly promises to be one of the most open for some years.

The age change, from under-18 to under-19, is purely cosmetic, simply giving the tournament a more accurate profile of its players, most of whom had passed their 19th birthday by the time the finals began anyway, having been "under-18" in the (previous) calendar year of the qualifiers.

As with every alternate year, these finals provide the added incentive to do well, as the top six - of just eight finalists - qualify automatically for the finals of the FIFA Under-20 Championship which takes place in the United Arab Emirates in late March-early April next year.

With two of the traditional giants of underage football, Portugal and France, failing to qualify, Spain start as slight favourites, though all the other seven sides harbour ambitions of doing well.

Norway's hopes, in a group comprising Spain, Czech Republic and Slovakia, may rest purely on the fact that they are hosts.

With the presence of Germany and England, along with what appears a very good Belgian team, Ireland's group looks the stronger on paper.

Belgium came through a tough qualifying process, coming out against Romania, Israel and Yugoslavia before trouncing Greece 6-2 on aggregate in their play-off.

They will be captained by midfielder Jonathan Blondel, who has just left Mouscron to join Tottenham Hotspur for €4 million - a big outlay for an 18-year-old in a close season of precious little transfer activity.

With no title since 1993, underage under-achievers England, who beat the Uli Stielike-managed Germany 3-1 in a friendly in Ipswich in February, bring a strong squad which contains three Arsenal players, including the expensively acquired Jermaine Pennant.

Ireland have nothing to fear, however, according to their playmaker, Sean Thornton, who has just completed a dream move to Premiership side Sunderland from Tranmere Rovers.

"Like the rest of the lads, I can't wait for this tournament to start," says Drogheda-born Thornton. "We've prepared properly this week down in Limerick and we've really gelled. There is a great togetherness about the squad.

"We also know that we came through a very tough qualifying group, knocking out Croatia and then Holland in the play-off. So the other countries will have seen that and know that we are a good side."

Another factor in this squad wanting to do well is the memory of their underachievement at the equivalent under-16 finals in Israel two years ago. They lost to eventual winners Portugal and Russia before a morale saving win over England.

"We are conscious of that," says Thornton. "We have England again in the last game in Norway and we are determined to have better results before we meet them this time."

Predicting jut how these tournaments pan out is always a little arbitrary, but the evidence points to Irish optimism being well-placed.

"The lads have spoken about the games we've played in qualifying and what we know of the other teams and we all agree that Holland are probably the best team we could meet in Europe at the moment and we put them out," said Thornton. "I don't think there will be a better team than Holland at these finals.

"We feel we have a strong chance. Everybody is looking sharp and fit.

"Our first goal is to make sure we are in the top six to qualify for the World Cup next year. We are going out there to win every game and take the trophy home."

Kerr is more reserved in his judgment on Ireland's prospects.

"The two groups look very even," says Kerr, who has been busy doing his homework, as usual. "Having said that, I'm glad we avoided Spain and Slovakia.

"Slovakia did well to put out Portugal, who won the title at under-16 level two years ago, beating us on the way.

"I've seen Germany, who beat Poland, last year's champions, in their play-off, while Noel (O'Reilly) saw England in their play-off win over Lithuania.

"We drew 0-0 with Belgium in a tournament two years ago. They beat Greece in their play-off, going through after winning the first leg 4-1, so they must be useful.

"We beat this England team 2-1 in the finals of the Under-16 championship in Israel two years ago, but they have made a good few changes since.

"Overall, our group looks tough, but whatever draw we got was always going to be tough.

"Whatever happens, it will, as always, be very interesting."

SQUAD: Wayne Henderson (Aston Villa), Brian Murphy (Man City), Stephen Brennan (Newcastle), Mark Rossiter (Sunderland), Stephen Kelly (Tottenham), Patrick McCarthy (Man City), Stephen Paisley (Man City), Stephen Capper (Sunderland), Ian Simpemba (Wycombe), Graham Ward (Wolves), Sean Thornton (Sunderland), Keith Gilroy (Middlesbrough), Michael Foley (Liverpool), Liam Kearney (Nottm Forest), Reineer Moor (Exeter City), Stephen Elliott (Man City), Jonathan Daly (Stockport), Adrian Deane (Charlton).

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE - Tomorrow Group A: Norway v Slovakia (Kongsvinger, 5.0), Spain v Czech Republic (Moss, 5.0) Monday Group B: England v Germany (Nadderud, 5.0), Belgium v Republic of Ireland (Drammen, 5.0) Tuesday Group A: Norway v Spain (Hønefoss, 5.0), Slovakia v Czech Republic (Lillestrøm, 5.0) Wednesday Group B: England v Belgium (Kongsvinger, 5.0), Germany v Republic of Ireland (Moss, 5.0) Thursday Group A: Czech Republic v Norway (Nadderud, 5.0), Slovakia v Spain (Drammen, 5.0) Friday Group B: Republic of Ireland v England (Hønefoss, 5.0), Germany v Belgium (Lillestrøm, 5.0) Saturday Third place play-off (Ullevål, 12.00) Final (Ullevål, 7.0) (Note: kick-offs Irish time)