Eiran Cashin and John Joe Patrick Finn on playing for Ireland

It’s a consequence of the Rice and Grealish sagas where two of our most promising players moved to the darkside. The shadow of those events still loom large so when our best players with dual nationality are on the cusp of a breakthrough we get all nervous that they will be gone from the Boys in Green in double quick time. The reality is that we lose very few players once they’ve entered the Irish system but doubts/nervousness/novenas still appear to be the order of the day.

Well, let’s put our minds at rest for John Joe Patrick Finn and Eiran Cashin who his week have both declared their pride at donning the green, they wouldn’t have it any other way. First up is midfielder Finn who signed for Stade De Reims in Ligue 1 earlier this month and has already made an eye-catching debut against PSG. John Joe’s family come from Galway/Mayo but he qualifies for Cameroon and Spain. That said he has spoken wholesomely about his plans for international football, it would fill the emerald heart with pride. 💚

23-year-old Eiran Cashin made the big move from Derby County to Brighton in the Premier League on a long-term contract until 2030. This is a centre-half that very few forwards can navigate beyond and he has great versatility across the back four - in other words all the attributes to become a mainstay for Ireland. He qualifies for the Boys in Green thanks to his grandmother from Leitrim and speaking in his first interview with the Seagulls the former Ireland U21 outlined his ambition to make that dream senior breakthrough for the Boys in Green. That unequivocal ambition to represent Ireland is clear for all to see. 💚