Bevis Mugabi (Uganda), Rhys Browne (Antigua & Barbuda), Shaun Donnellan and Corey Whelan (Republic of Ireland Under-21s) have spent the last week across the globe on international duty. 

The trip to East Africa was of special significance to 22-year-old Mugabi, who picked up his first two caps for his country in the friendlies against Sao Tome & Principe (3-1 win) and Malawi (0-0 draw) in Namboole.

Continuing the trend of firsts, Rhys Browne netted his first international goal by opening the scoring in Antigua’s 3-1 win over Barbuda, before playing an hour of the 1-1 draw with Jamaica in Kingston to mark his eighth appearance.

Closer to home, loanee Whelan played 72 minutes of the Republic Under-21s’ 3-1 friendly win over Iceland and the full 90 in the UEFA U21 European Championship qualifier against Azerbaijan on Tuesday night.

Having sat out the friendly, Shaun Donnellan proved to be the hero against Azerbaijan playing the full game and scoring a vital 96th minute winner. The defender’s first goal for his country pulls Eire closer to group leaders Germany who sit just three points ahead.