Kenny's background 'not that important' to O'Neill

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill says new call-up Eoin Kenny's family connection to the Republic of Ireland is not something he considered before bringing him into the senior squad for this month's Nations League fixtures against Ukraine and Hungary. Eoin Kenny's father, Stephen Kenny, managed the Republic of Ireland for three years between 2020 and 2023 Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill said new call-up Eoin Kenny's family connection to the Republic of Ireland is not something he considered before bringing him into the senior squad for this month's Nations League fixtures against Ukraine and Hungary. The Portsmouth player, who joined the Championship side from Dundalk in the summer transfer window, is the son of former Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny.

A 20-year-old attacker, Eoin Kenny was born in Northern Ireland while his father was manager of Derry City but represented Republic of Ireland at under-19 level. He switched to Northern Ireland to play under-21s, turning out 11 times for Tommy Wright's side and captaining them against Greece last month. "The background is not really that important for me, if I'm honest. I just look at the lad as a player," said O'Neill. "He's really enjoyed being in the Northern Ireland set-up and, I think off the back of a really strong under-21s campaign, he deserves the opportunity to be