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Town Trio in Irish U18 Squad - Ipswich Town News

Midfielder Adam McDonnell and academy striker Shane McLoughlin have joined Cemal Ramadan in being named in the Republic of Ireland U18 squad for two friendlies in Luxembourg next month.

The trio, all 18, will join the squad for a training camp on May 30th before they travel to Luxembourg for games on Tuesday 2nd June and Thursday 4th June.

McDonnell (above), who signed a two-year deal when he joined the Blues from Dublin side Shelbourne last summer but was prevented from playing competitive football due to red tape relating to his education, has previously won one cap at U18 level, in addition to appearances at U15, U16, U17 and U19 levels.

McLoughlin (above), who recently completed the second year of his scholarship with the Blues, has previously won caps at U16 level and like Ramadan has been offered the chance to extend his stay with Town.

Meanwhile, fellow scholar Monty Patterson could win his 13th New Zealand U20 cap when they play Austria in a friendly in Oteha on Sunday. Patterson, 18, was left out of the squad for Tuesday's 2-1 friendly defeat to Honduras.

The games are part of New Zealand's preparations for the FIFA U20 World Cup which they are hosting later this month and throughout June.

Elsewhere, former Town academy striker Caolan Lavery, now with Sheffield Wednesday, has received his first call into the senior Northern Ireland squad for a friendly with Qatar later this month and then a Euro 2016 qualifier against Romania.

Canada-born Lavery, 22, left the Blues after turning down the offer of a short-term professional contract in October 2011.

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