March Academy Internationals: Devenny and Farquhar combine for Northern Ireland U21s

Academy

27 Mar 2024

Crystal Palace’s Academy had more than 10 players on international duty over the March international break, with some having some standout performances, find out how they got on below!

Palace Under-21s prospects Justin Devenny and Craig Farquhar bolstered the ranks of the Northern Ireland U21s side ahead of their friendly against Czechia and their 2025 UEFA U21 European Championship qualifier against Serbia.

Midfielder Devenny recently featured in the first-team’s mid-season friendly against Bodo/Glimt, while Farquhar joined in January from Larne FC. In their first game against Czechia, Northern Ireland fell to a 3-0 defeat, Devenny played the full 90 while Farquhar was an unused substitute.

The pair both started the following game against Serbia and managed to come from behind to emerge victorious in a 2-1 triumph in Eastern Europe. Farquhar scored the winning goal 20 minutes from time, getting on the end of Devenny’s corner for a bullet header.

That winning goal made by the Palace pair still keeps the Northern Ireland U21 side in with an outside chance of qualifying to the latter stage via the play-offs, as they move up to fourth in Group F.

Watch Farquhar's goal and Devenny's assist from the corner at 1:19 in the video below!

Palace Under-18s star Jesse Derry received another call up to the England Under-17s ahead of their UEFA European U17 Championship Elite Round qualification stage. The winger has been in exceptional form this season, with 16 goals in 22 appearances across all competitions in red and blue.

He continued his fine form for the Three Lions in their first game against Northern Ireland, they went behind, but managed to equalise before half-time thanks in part to Derry’s assist for the leveller.

They went on to win the game 5-1 after Derry set up the equaliser then put another five goals past Hungary in a 5-0 win at St George’s Park. This set up a group-topping clash against France, though Les Bluets narrowly edged out 10-man England 2-1.

Derry’s prominence was noted within the first two games and that proved to be enough for the young Lions as they qualified for the final stage of the 2024 UEFA U17 Championship.

In the Republic of Ireland Under-19s side, there are two more Palace representatives in Jake Grante and Franco Umeh. The pair were a part of Tom Mohan’s side as they prepared for a double-header against Slovakia.

These two friendlies were in preparation for the U19 European Championship qualifiers which will take place during the summer. Grante has recently stepped up to the U21s, registering two assists in a win against Aston Villa, while Umeh has been involved with the first-team in their recent friendly against Bodø/Glimt.

The Republic of Ireland U19s side lost their first game against Slovakia 1-0, with Grante and Umeh playing the entire game. The rematch a few days later saw Umeh come off the bench in the 26th minute to inspire a 3-1 comeback win, scoring the second goal.

Defender Charlie Walker-Smith earned a call up to the Wales U17s side this month and played every minute of their three UEFA European U17 Championship Elite Round qualification games. He has previously represented The Dragons at U16s and U17s level.

He played the full 90 minutes against Romania in a 2-1 win and also in the 2-1 defeat against Sweden three days later. In their final must-win clash against Bulgaria, Walker-Smith again played the full 90 minutes to help Wales to a 2-1 win.

The two wins out of three also sees Wales qualify for the final stage of the 2024 UEFA U17 Championship in May.

Three of the call-ups were for the Republic of Ireland Under-21s side, as Tayo Adaramola, Seán Grehan and Killian Phillips each earned a place in Jim Crawford’s side.

The trio are currently out on loan at RWD Molenbeek, Carlisle United and Aberdeen respectively, and have been impressing at their various clubs.

They faced San Marino in their 2025 UEFA U21 European Championship qualifier and recorded a resounding 7-0 win, in which Adaramola kept a clean sheet. Phillips and Grehan featured as second-half substitutes, as Crawford’s Ireland moved up to second place in the group with two games remaining.

Finally, Palace Under-18s prospects Rio Cardines, Samuel Lusale and Caleb Redhead also featured on international duty earlier in March, with all three finding the back of the net.

Cardines featured for Trinidad & Tobago Under-20s, in their 2024 CONCACAF U20s Championship qualifiers getting a goal and three assists.

Lusale made his debut for Slovakia U17s, scoring and assisting as he helped them qualify for the 2024 UEFA U17 Championship.

Redhead also featured in the 2024 CONCACAF U20s Championship qualifiers as he made his debut for Grenada Under-20s, scoring a brace in their final game.

Tayo Adaramola, Seán Grehan and Killian Phillips - Republic of Ireland U21s

Fri, 22nd March: San Marino 0-7 Republic of Ireland (Adaramola played the whole match and kept a clean sheet, Grehan came on in the 66th minute, Phillips came on in the 75th minute)

Justin Devenny and Craig Farquhar - Northern Ireland U21s

Thu, 21st March: Czechia 3-0 Northern Ireland (Devenny played 79 minutes, Farquhar was an unused substitute)
Tue, 26th March: Serbia 1-2 Northern Ireland (Devenny and Farquhar played the whole game, Devenny assisted Farquhar’s winning goal in the 70th minute)

Jake Grante and Franco Umeh - Republic of Ireland U19s

Sat, 23rd March: Slovakia 1-0 Republic of Ireland (Grante and Umeh played the entire game)
Tue, 26th March: Slovakia 1-3 Republic of Ireland (Umeh came on in the 26th minute and scored the second goal, Grante was an unused substitute)

Jesse Derry - England U17s

Weds, 20th March: England 5-1 Northern Ireland (Derry assisted the equaliser and played 72 minutes)
Sat, 23rd March: England 5-0 Hungary (Derry played 70 minutes)
Tue, 26th March: England 1-2 France (Derry was not named in the matchday squad)

Charlie Walker-Smith - Wales U17s

Weds, 20th March: Romania 1-2 Wales (Walker-Smith played the whole game)
Sat, 23rd March: Wales 1-2 Sweden (Walker-Smith played the whole game)
Tue, 26th March: Wales 2-1 Bulgaria (Walker-Smith played the whole game)

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