Elite effort

Joe Sheridan and Keevan Hawthorne have been named in the Northern Ireland Under-19 squad for the elite round of Euro 2026 qualifiers.

Gareth McAuley’s side will travel to Romania for the Group 5 mini tournament next week, where they will face Ukraine on Wednesday morning before tackling the hosts on March 28 ahead of their concluding fixture with Kazakhstan three days later, with all at Cliftonville wishing Joe (pictured) and Keevan every success on the international stage.

Five Reds players will, meanwhile, be part of the Northern Ireland Under-17 panel that will complete the final stage of Euro 2026 qualifying when they take on Scotland tomorrow.

Having lost their opening two contests to Spain and Turkiye – who meet at Solitude in 2pm kick-off – Cliftonville quintet Alfie Anderson, David Green, Shea McGarry, Paul Stanfield and Eamonn Tohill will all be bidding to sign off from duty on a positive note at the Coleraine Showgrounds.