Tuesday, 15 October 2019

Teenage (Competitive) Kicks

After starting against in the Euro 2020 qualifier against Switzerland, Aaron Connolly joined an elite group of players who made their full competitive debut before their 20th birthday.

Only 16 players (including Connolly) have done this in the 564 game history of the Republic, starting with Kevin O'Flanagan and Jackie Carey in a qualifier for the 1938 World Cup against Norway.

Before Connolly, the last time a teenage player started a competitive game was in September 1998, when Robbie Keane and Damien Duff, aged 18 and 19 respectively, started against Croatia in a 2-0 win for the Boys in Green. Keane is also the youngest player ever to start a competitive game

PlayerLevelDate of birthDateHomeScoreAwayAge
Kevin O'FlanaganWorld Cup Qualifier10 June 19197 November 1937Republic of Ireland3-3Norway18 years, 150 days
Jackie CareyWorld Cup Qualifier23 February 19197 November 1937Republic of Ireland3-3Norway18 years, 257 days
Arthur FitzsimonsWorld Cup Qualifier16 December 19298 September 1949Republic of Ireland3-0Finland19 years, 266 days
Liam MunroeWorld Cup Qualifier28 November 193328 October 1953Republic of Ireland4-0Luxembourg19 years, 334 days
Don GivensWorld Cup Qualifier9 August 194927 May 1969Denmark2-0Republic of Ireland19 years, 291 days
Jimmy HolmesWorld Cup Qualifier11 November 195315 November 1972Republic of Ireland2-1France19 years, 4 days
Liam BradyEuropean Cup Qualifier13 February 195630 October 1974Republic of Ireland3-0Soviet Union18 years, 259 days
David O'LearyWorld Cup Qualifier2 May 195817 November 1976France2-0Republic of Ireland18 years, 199 days
Pierce O'LearyEuropean Cup Qualifier5 November 195917 October 1979Republic of Ireland3-0Bulgaria19 years, 346 days
Steve StauntonWorld Cup Qualifier19 January 196916 November 1988Spain2-0Republic of Ireland19 years, 302 days
Mark KennedyEuropean Cup Qualifier15 May 19766 September 1995Austria3-1Republic of Ireland19 years, 114 days
David ConnollyWorld Cup Qualifier6 June 197730 April 1997Romania1-0Republic of Ireland19 years, 328 days
Ian HarteWorld Cup Qualifier31 August 197731 August 1996Liechtenstein0-5Republic of Ireland19 years, 0 days
Damien DuffEuropean Cup Qualifier2 March 19795 September 1998Republic of Ireland2-0Croatia19 years, 187 days
Robbie KeaneEuropean Cup Qualifier8 July 19805 September 1998Republic of Ireland2-0Croatia18 years, 59 days
Aaron ConnollyEuropean Cup Qualifier28 January 200015 October 2019Switzerland2-0Republic of Ireland19 years, 260 days

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