Northern Ireland junior international manager Harry McConkey has named his squad for a UEFA Regions’ Cup mini tournament later this month.
After defeating Western Region in a two-legged play-off earlier this year, Eastern Region are set to represent Northern Ireland in the Regions’ Cup 2026/27 intermediate round.
McConkey has chosen 18 Eastern Region players to take part in a mini tournament (Group 6) in Albania between 28 October and 5 November.
Northern Ireland have been drawn in the same group as regional teams representing Albania, Italy and Slovakia. The winners of Group 6 in the intermediate round will advance to the final tournament in the summer of 2027.
Their first game is against Piemonte Valle d'Aosta Regional FA (representing Italy). The match on Thursday 29 October is taking place at Stadiumi Luz i Vogël in Kavaje Municipality in western Albania (kick-off 11am GMT).
Matchday two will see them come up against West Slovakia (Slovakia). That game on 1 November is also at Stadiumi Luz i Vogël and has an 11am GMT start.
Their final game will take place at the House of Football in Tirana, the Albanian capital, on Wednesday 4 November. Their opponents will be a team chosen from across Albania (12.30pm GMT).
McConkey said: “It has not been easy making my final 18 selection for Albania. Over 30 players have been involved in the Eastern Region squad since the play-off matches and I have been impressed by them all.
“The final 18 has a balance of experience and youth. Some players, like Lewis Hunter, Richard Gowdy and Patrick Downey, were involved in the Regions’ Cup in 2022, while quality midfielders like Paul Donnelly and Charlie Dornan have great experience in our own Championship and I feel they can do well in Albania.
“There are exciting younger players in the squad, such as Leon Lavery, Tom McNeill and John Mahoney. I feel they can really develop their game further in this European tournament.”.
He explained players from 11 clubs in the Eastern Region will be representing Northern Ireland in Albania.
“The players are representing not just their clubs but also their leagues. We have players from the NIFL Championship, National Conference League, NAFL Premier Division, NAFL Division 1A and NAFL Division 1B,” he pointed out.
The team has attracted sponsorship from Modern Tyres, Exi Tite and TeamFeePay and McConkey thanked all of the sponsors for their support.
He also thanked Larne FC Academy, Harland and Wolff Welders and Coleraine for helping to facilitate training sessions and friendlies in the run-up to the tournament. The latest friendly saw Northern Ireland take on Munster, Republic of Ireland’s representatives in the Regions’ Cup, in a friendly at Blanchflower Stadium.
In October 2024 McConkey, who has managed Northern Ireland’s junior international side (featuring junior and intermediate level players) for 21 years, became the most experienced manager in the history of the UEFA Regions' Cup tournament, having overseen 47 matches at the helm of Northern Ireland.
And he will take charge of his 50th match in the Regions’ Cup mini tournament being held in Albania this autumn.
Northern Ireland have consistently managed to punch above their weight in the competition. In 2007 in Bulgaria, 2013 in Italy and 2015 in Dublin the team successfully navigated the qualifiers and made the finals where eight teams play in two groups of four and the group winners contest the final.
The Northern Ireland Regions’ Cup squad for the intermediate round in 2026 is as follows:
Goalkeepers - Gerard Walker and Lewis Hunter (both Dundela).
Defenders - Gareth Henderson and Curtis Brown (both Derriaghy), Tom McNeill (Drumaness Mills), Leon Lavery (St James’ Swifts), Sam Dinu (Killyleagh YC), Mick Byrne (Newington), John Mahoney (Kilmore Rec).
Midfielders - Richard Gowdy, Paul Donnelly and Patrick Downey (all Newington), Mark Lyons (Crumlin Star), Charlie Dornan (Dundela).
Forwards - Johnny Ewart (Dollingstown), Seamus Duffy (Newington), Matty Herron (Larne Tech OB), Kyle Woods (Ards Rangers).
