Sean McCaffrey's Under 17 team, has been rewarded for their excellent qualifying group success in the Ukraine, by being selected to host the Elite Group stage of the qualifying process, during March 2006.

Ireland will encounter a very still challenge from Israel, Romania and Serbia & Montenegro in Group Six. Only the winners of the Group will progress to the UEFA Championship Finals to be staged in Luxembourg during May 2006.

Elite Group Six Match Schedule

Monday 27 March 2006
Israel	v	Serbia & Montenegro
Rep. Ireland	v	Romania
Wednesday 29 March 2006
Romania	v	Serbia & Montenegro
Rep. Ireland	v	Israel
Friday 31 March 2006
Israel	v	Romania
Rep. Ireland	v	Serbia & Montenegro

In preparation for the UEFA Qualifiers, Ireland will travel to Portugal to compete in the Algarve Tournament with Holland, France and the host nation. The tournament will run from the 25th February 2006 to the 28th February 2006.

The draw for the first qualifying group stage of the 2007 UEFA U17 Championships has also taken place. Ireland has been drawn in Group Six where they will meet Azerbaijan, Denmark and Latvia.

The hosts for the qualifying tournament have not yet been decided. Ireland will be seeking to secure one of the top two places which will enable them to progress to the Elite Stage of the competition.

The finals of the Championships will take place in Belgium during May 2007.