On Wednesday afternoon, a bunch of young players will etch their names into the history books in Qatar as the first Ireland team to play at the U17 FIFA World Cup.

Colin O’Brien’s team will face Panama at 12.30pm Irish time, with games against Uzbekistan and Paraguay to follow over the coming days. It will be the first time that Ireland have featured in this tournament, bringing an incredibly talented squad to the Middle East.

Playing in a World Cup, even one at underage level, is the pinnacle for any aspiring footballer. While the majority of the Irish public will be introduced to these players for the first time this week, their journeys up to this point have been long and sometimes difficult ones.

We spoke to the parents of three of those players, who told contrasting stories as to how their sons made it to the World Cup stage.

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The Contrasting Journeys Of Three Ireland U17 World Cup Stars
Oisin McDonagh (Venezia)

A quick look at the Ireland squad for this tournament will tell you that the majority of the players involved are still playing their club football on home soil. The option of going to the UK, one which many footballers of this age group would have taken in the past, is no longer available until they turn 18 due to Brexit.

While many of them have been content to remain in the League of Ireland system, some have opted to take a more unconventional route.

Oisin McDonagh is chief amongst them.

A native of Wexford, he opted to sign for Italian club Venezia soon after his 16th birthday. Speaking to Balls, his father John recalled how the decision was one that the youngster did not take lightly.

I remember me and his mother were sitting inside in Wexford. We were having dinner when the contract came in from Venezia.

I think for Oisin, it took him a couple of days to kind of figure it out in his own head. It was a huge step, he was only just gone 16 years of age.

He was getting up and leaving his family, leaving his friends, to go and live in a foreign country with a different language which he didn’t understand. It was a huge ordeal for him.

A couple of days in, he said ‘yes, I want to go and I want to do this’.

The move to Italy kickstarted Oisin McDonagh’s journey in professional football, but it was long road before reaching that point.

He first lined out for local club Glynn Barntown, before spending time in the Shamrock Rovers academy, and eventually returning to play with Wexford.

It was with his first club that John recalled the trademark determination that would serve Oisin so well in the years that followed.

I ended up coaching him for the first couple of years there. I would have trained better kids I suppose, but he would have always had the drive and determination.

He was always fooling around with a ball at his feet. He was kicking it around the kitchen, he probably kicked every door off of every press. The mother might not have been too happy, but sure look!

McDonagh would receive his first Ireland call-up at the age of 15 and has since established himself as a key contributor at numerous age groups. The centre-back has captained the side on a number of occasions and looks set to play a big role in Qatar.

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John expects that his son and the other players in the squad will do their country proud over the coming weeks.

From the time he was 15, every time he steps out on that pitch for Ireland, you feel so proud and so honoured to be there.

They’re a good bunch of kids. I have followed them from 15 all the way up.

While he’s on the field, like any parent, you’re kind of watching him the whole time. You’re trying your best to follow the ball, but sometimes it just doesn’t happen!

That is an emotion that quite a few parents that made their way to Qatar are sure to share.

Brody Lee (Cork City)

Much like Oisin McDonagh, Brody Lee has been a key player for this Ireland team through a number of age groups. He first earned his first international call-up at the age of 15, but the Tipperary native had been tipped to make such a breakthrough for a number of years prior to that.

Speaking to Balls, his father Shane recalled that one particular conversation with his son’s old coach that stands out.

Following Roscrea United, he played for Killavilla United. There was a coach back then by the name of Eugene Shannon.

I remember coming up to the pitch one day and Eugene put an arm around me and said ‘this child is going to wear and Irish jersey’.

Brody is playing under-12 at that point in time. They are the moments that come back when you see him going out to Qatar.

After cutting his teeth in his native county, Lee would make the move to Dublin club football. He spent time with both Belvedere and Shamrock Rovers, before signing for Cork City.

Having been handed a professional contract soon after his 17th birthday, the winger would go on to make six senior appearances for the club in the 2025 season. He also featured in Cork’s friendly with Celtic at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, an occasion that his father described as ‘the highlight’ of his career thus far.

The forward will no doubt be hoping to hit a new milestone in Qatar this month. Shane Lee believes that this squad of youngsters is perfectly primed for success at the tournament.

Look it’s been an amazing journey. Every single day, Brody works his socks off. He tries to be better in what he does.

You’re always on edge, because you’re hoping they do well, you’re hoping your child does well.

There is a good squad going to this World Cup. I’ve seen them for the last three or four years and I know the talent that is involved. They’re well capable kids.

Whereas some players and parents are well used to the current setup, it is a far newer experience for some others.

Ryan Butler (Wexford FC)
Ryan Butler (right) of Wexford FC

Whereas the other two players mentioned in this article have been longstanding figures within this Ireland squad, the third is a much more recent addition.

Ryan Butler only received his first ever international call-up earlier this year, being included in the squad for the trip to Croatia back in June. Speaking to Balls, his mother Elaine summed up what the initial call-up meant to their family.

That was massive for us as a family, I won’t ever forget it.

He just always wanted it. He had been called up at a younger age to do a trial for Ireland and then hadn’t heard anything until a few years later.

So to get that call and make the camp, we were all just super proud of him.

Another Wexford native, he would have played alongside Oisin McDonagh at youth level prior to the latter’s move to Italy.

Ryan Butler’s inclusion in the World Cup squad has capped off what has been a remarkable season for the 17-year old.

He would make a major breakthrough at first team level, making 23 appearances for Wexford FC to go along with his international recognition.

Those are amazing achievements in themselves, but they were made all the more remarkable by the challenges he faced in his personal life earlier this year. Elaine recalls how Ryan lost two incredibly important people in his life in a short period of time back in March, with football acting as his saving grace during that period.

At the time he was called up by Ireland, in March he had lost two really important people in his life, his grandmother Pauline and his godfather Paul, within two weeks of each other.

He was training with the seniors at the time. He did not tell one person at Wexford FC what he was going through, because he can switch it off and turn on his soccer head.

He didn’t want to lose anything, he wanted to keep training, wanted his place.

When he found out he was going to Croatia with Ireland, all his hard work was paid off. It lifted the whole family.

His involvement in the World Cup will certainly be an emotional one as a result, with Elaine admitting she ‘will probably be bawling her eyes out’.

You get the sense that she will not be the only one doing so as Ireland embark on what they will be a hugely successful campaign in Qatar.

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