{"id":335909,"date":"2026-03-08T21:18:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-08T21:18:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/335909\/"},"modified":"2026-03-08T21:18:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-08T21:18:10","slug":"heimir-hallgrimsson-has-included-four-league-of-ireland-players-in-his-provisional-squad-for-the-world-cup-play-off","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/335909\/","title":{"rendered":"Heimir Hallgr\u00edmsson has included FOUR League of Ireland players in his provisional squad for the World Cup play-off"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Three Shamrock Rovers players have been recognised by the Ireland manager.<\/p>\n<p>19:45, 08 Mar 2026Updated 19:53, 08 Mar 2026<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/94034_2897590-1.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"John O\u2019Shea and Heimir Hallgr\u00edmsson at the derby between Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers \" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">John O\u2019Shea and Heimir Hallgr\u00edmsson at the derby between Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers (Image: INPHO\/Ryan Byrne)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Heimir Hallgr\u00edmsson has included FOUR League of Ireland players in his provisional squad for the World Cup play-offs later this month.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Three of those come from champions <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.irishmirror.ie\/all-about\/shamrock-rovers-fc\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Shamrock Rovers<\/a>, and the other is from current <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.irishmirror.ie\/all-about\/league-of-ireland\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Premier Division<\/a> leaders <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.irishmirror.ie\/all-about\/bohemian-fc\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Bohemians<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Recent signing Adam Brennan (19) has been recognised by the <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.irishmirror.ie\/all-about\/republic-of-ireland-soccer\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Ireland<\/a> manager for his sensational start to life with the Hoops by being named on the provisional panel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He is joined by teammates Matt Healy and Ed McGinty, while Bohs midfielder Dawson Devoy is also included on the list, a source has confirmed to MirrorSport.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.irishmirror.ie\/all-about\/heimir-hallgrimsson\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Hallgr\u00edmsson<\/a> will whittle his squad down ahead of an announcement the week before Ireland\u2019s crunch March 26 play-off semi-final against Czechia in Prague &#8211; and is expected to go for as experienced a group as possible for the biggest games for the national team in decades.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">However, his acknowledgement of the quartet and their starts to the new campaign, along with Hallgr\u00edmsson&#8217;s regular presence at games, is an indication of his eagerness to keep tabs on the best of the home-based players.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A win against the Czechs would send the Boys in Green into a play-off decider at home to either Denmark or North Macedonia, with a place at this summer\u2019s World Cup at stake.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Hallgr\u00edmsson has been a regular at League of Ireland games so far this season.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Last Friday he was at Galway United\u2019s 2-2 draw with Dundalk, while five days earlier he watched St Patrick\u2019s Athletic secure a late win over the Tribesmen.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He was also spotted at the Dublin derby between Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers, as well as the Hoops\u2019 home game against Dundalk.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Brennan has made an electrifying start to his Rovers career, having moved to the Tallaght Stadium side from UCD during the winter.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/94115_2903363.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"Adam Brennan\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Adam Brennan(Image: INPHO\/Bryan Keane)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He scored a goal and provided an assist on his league debut against St Patrick\u2019s Athletic, and he won the penalty that secured all three points against Derry City last Friday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">McGinty and Healy both had outstanding first seasons at Shamrock Rovers last year, and look to have taken that form into this campaign.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">And Devoy is into his second spell at current leaders Bohemians, where he is now captain, with a move to MK Dons sandwiched in between.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He scored the winner away to Derry City late last month and has been an ever-present for Alan Reynolds\u2019 side so far this season.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">His start to the new season has led to player-turned-pundit Alan Cawley calling for Devoy to &#8220;be in the conversation&#8221; for a spot in the international set-up.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Speaking on the RT\u00c9 podcast earlier this month, Cawley said: &#8220;Now, the Czechia game is only three weeks away. I&#8217;m not sure he&#8217;ll get in the squad for that. But certainly in terms of Nations League games, summer internationals, friendlies, he&#8217;s playing at such a level that I think he should be in the conversation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;We&#8217;re not blessed with midfield talent either in that national team at the moment and he&#8217;s operating at such a level that I think he should be in the conversation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;He&#8217;s been outstanding and not just with the ball. Without the ball as well, he&#8217;s become such a pivotal figure, almost like a leader for that club, not just the team. I&#8217;m mad about him.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Want to see more of the stories you love from the Irish Mirror? <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=irishmirror.ie\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Making us your preferred source on Google<\/a> means you\u2019ll get more of our exclusives, top stories and must-read content straight away. 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