Republic of Ireland winger Sean Murray can think of no better way to celebrate leaving his teens behind today than securing victory over Romania in the Uefa Championship qualifiers.
The Watford man, who turns 20 today, is keen to replicate his under-19 Uefa finals appearance three seasons ago with another at the under-21 top table in 2015.
To maintain that objective, Murray believes that only victory in Piatra Neamt against the group’s second seeds will suffice. Ireland will then host the Romanians next Tuesday at the Showgrounds.
“Our aim is second place in the group behind Germany, so we have to be winning the matches against Romania,” said the Londoner, who declared for Ireland at 16 through his grandparents from Cabra in Dublin.
“Germany beat us 4-0 last month but these are the main two games that will decide who pushes for second and a play-off spot.”
Harry McCue – who will manage Ireland under-21s in Noel King’s absence – lost Jack Grealish and Michael Harriman over the weekend drafted in Carl McHugh and Will Hayhurst as replacements.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)