Northern Ireland’s amateur international team will be in UEFA Regions’ Cup action next week – in Switzerland.
The Western Region are set to represent their country in Regions’ Cup qualifiers for the first time since 2016.
Long-serving boss Harry McConkey (pictured) will once again manage the Northern Ireland team as they prepare to face teams from host nation Switzerland, Republic of Ireland and Georgia.
He said: “The players and the staff are all really looking forward to representing their country.”
Former Northern Ireland international Michael Smith (ex-Hearts, Peterborough United and Bristol Rovers) and Linfield attacker Joel Cooper (former Northern Ireland U21 international) both previously played in the competition and McConkey said he would love to unearth some players of their calibre in this year’s Regions’ Cup, which is the 13th edition of the competition.
Back in February an Eastern Region v Western Region play-off match was staged at Dungannon’s Stangmore Park – and the team representing the western part of Northern Ireland prevailed on a 3-0 scoreline. Limavady United striker John Butcher scored twice, while Newbuildings United forward Matthew Pierce was also on target.
Since then McConkey and his assistant Craig Lynch plus other coaches have been putting the players, who all play at either NIFL Championship or intermediate level in Northern Ireland, through their paces on a regular basis in preparation for this autumn’s games.
And the manager has chosen an 18-strong squad to compete in Switzerland next week.
McConkey explained: “This is only the second time in 20 years that the West have qualified and had the honour of representing Northern Ireland’s amateurs in this competition. Selecting the final 18 players for the tournament has not been an easy task.
"There is no doubt that our preparation has been complicated by so many midweek fixtures in the past six weeks. We had hoped to have at least three friendlies before going away, however the two we managed to save, versus Coleraine and Dungannon Swifts, were very beneficial to the squad."
Northern Ireland’s first game in the intermediate round (Group 4) of the Regions’ Cup competition will see them come up against Association Cantonale Vaudoise de Football (Switzerland) on Monday (2.30pm kick-off CET).
Matchday two is next Thursday (24 October) when they will face Munster FA (representing Republic of Ireland). The kick-off time for that one is 11.30am CET.
Their final game is pencilled in for Sunday 27 October when they will take on Football School Bridge (Georgia) at 4pm CET.
All matches will be played at the Centre Sportif de Colovray, which is located opposite UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon.
Over the past six weekends the Northern Ireland squad have been training at either Moyola Park’s ground in Castledawson, Co Londonderry, or at Fivemiletown United’s facilities in Co Tyrone. The manager said he was grateful to both clubs for accommodating his squad.
He further revealed: “Regarding our opposition, we are always limited in our knowledge as teams can change, but we have found some useful footage on two of our three opponents.
“Our first game against Switzerland on Monday will be a real challenge, especially since our lads will have played for their clubs on Saturday and will travel on Sunday.”
The winners of eight Regions’ Cup intermediate round groups this autumn will qualify for the finals, which will be held June/July 2025 and hosted by one of the qualifiers. And five teams have already reached the finals. They represent Poland, Finland, Serbia, Czechia and Croatia.
The Northern Ireland squad for the UEFA Regions’ Cup intermediate round is as follows:
Goalkeepers – Dylan Doherty (Dergview), Gareth Muldoon (Institute).
Defenders – Tiarnan Campbell and Nathan Sherry (both Ballinamallard United), Aaron McLaughlin (Tobermore United), Niall Fielding (Dergview), Tiarnan Boorman (Limavady United), Robert McLean (Moyola Park).
Midfielders – Ruairi Boorman (Limavady United), Gary McFadden (Tobermore United), Matthew Callaghan (Fivemiletown United), Darren Robb (Newbuildings United), Reece Byrne (Ballinamallard United), Jonathan McLean (Moyola Park).
Forwards – Darragh Byrne (Ballinamallard United), Ethan Nethery (Dergview), Nick Palmer (Fivemiletown United), John Butcher (Limavady United).
