Barry Quinn will be rewarded for his impressive start to the season, with a place in the Republic of Ireland's under-21 squad for the European championship game in Yugoslavia on October 9th.

After breaking into Coventry City's first team with a marked degree of success in the last month, there was some speculation that the young Dubliner, who captained Ireland to their European under-18 championship triumph in Cyprus during the summer, would be promoted to the senior squad.

Instead, he is likely to travel to Yugoslavia as a member of the under-21 party after missing out on the 2-2 draw in the opening European game against Croatia at Buckley Park, Kilkenny, earlier in the month.

His omission from that game was a surprise, the more so since he was once of the late replacements drafted into the senior squad when an Ireland XI opposed an international selection in Paul McGrath's testimonial at the end of last season.

According to under-21 manager Ian Evans the decision to exclude him from the Croatian game was made as it was felt the player needed a break after being centrally involved in the under-18 championship only a month earlier.

"It was felt that he could benefit from a rest, but it was always intended that he would be back for the other games in the championship," said Evans.

There will also be a place for Daryl Clare, the Grimsby Town forward who impressed so much in the game in Kilkenny, but not, alas, for Barry Conlon.

Conlon, now playing with Southend United after moving from Manchester City is automatically suspended after being sent off against Croatia.