13/4/08
Ireland Under-18 International team manager Sean McCaffrey has announced a 23-man squad for this week’s double-friendly fixture against Malta.
The first of the two matches is scheduled for Tuesday, April 15 at Turner’s Cross and the nations face each other again on Thursday, April 17 at St. Colman’s Park in Cobh (both 7.30pm).
McCaffrey has selected his panel of players entirely from domestic clubs. He will use the pair of games to assess the best of home-based talent available to him ahead of next season’s UEFA qualifying campaign which gets under-way in November.
IRELAND U-18 SQUAD:
Mark McGinley - Fanad United
Brian Collopy - Wembley Rovers
Brian Kane - WFTA
Kevin Burns - Tramore AFC
Niall Walsh - Castlebar Celtic
Peter O’Halloran - Cobh Ramblers
Darren Murray - WFTA
Shane O’Connor - St. Josephs Boys
Daniel Langan - WFTA
Enda Stevens - Cherry Orchard
Craig Duggan - Cork City
Keith Ward - St. Kevin’s Boys
David O’Neill - Arklow Town
Robert Waters - Cork City
Ian Byrne - Bohemians
Joseph O’Neill - Sporting Fingal
David Shovlin - Drunkeen United
Kevin Dawson - St. Kevin’s Boys
Eoin Hanrahan - Fairview Rangers
Jake Kelly - St. Josephs Boys
Gavin Falconer - Tramore AFC
Patrick Madden - WFTA
David McDaid - Derry City
2/4/08
Jennings & O'Neill call for 'one team in Ireland'
Martin O’Neill & Pat Jennings believe that a united Ireland football team would be “a phenomenal step” for the game on the island.
The Aston Villa manager and former North of Ireland international was speaking before a lunch in Dublin yesterday to honour the All-Ireland Shamrock Rovers XI which played the then world champions Brazil in a famous exhibition game at Lansdowne Road in October 1973.
Although the starting 11 that day included the likes of Pat Jennings, Bryan Hamilton and O’Neill himself from the north and John Giles, Don Givens and Paddy Mulligan from the south, the fixture was cold-shouldered by the IFA in Belfast. And the late Derek Dougan, the legendary Wolves striker whose brainchild the game was, paid for his bold initiative by never again being picked to play for the North.
“Derek sacrificed a lot,” Martin O’Neill recalled yesterday. “He knew what he was taking on, with the game being played against the particular political/ religious backdrop of the time, and his own Northern Ireland career suffered as a consequence. Even then we realised that it was very historic but you would never have known at that stage what the future held.”
Thirty five years on, O’Neill isn’t convinced that an All-Ireland team is necessarily imminent, despite the extraordinary political changes on the island in recent years. But it’s a development he would dearly love to see.
“The political climate has changed a great deal since then and you might think that in this particular climate it is a possibility,” he mused. “But I really don’t know. I don’t know even at this stage if everyone would want it to happen.
“From the playing viewpoint, you can imagine the possibilities. For instance, Northern Ireland went on to the 1982 World Cup and we actually played in the quarter-finals. And can you imagine what our side would have been like then if it had included Frank Stapleton and Liam Brady? We would have been phenomenal. We had a great old spirit among ourselves at that time but you can imagine what it would have like to add one or two of those players. And I’m sure there was a stage in later years when the Republic might have thought they could have done with one or two extra players — like, if Pat Jennings had been around.”
Jennings, by common consent one of the world’s greatest ever goalkeepers, also recalled that officialdom north of the border was also out of step with the players back in 1973.
“The Doog has gone into print as saying that he didn’t get a great hearing when he went with the idea to the Irish FA and the fact that none of them turned up on the night, and we had to go under the banner of Shamrock Rovers, it’s obvious that everybody wasn’t giving it their backing. But from the players’ point of view it was just a great occasion to play football against Brazil. We all understood what the occasion was and what the possibilities were — but then it’s never been a players’ problem, has it?”
Jennings too, while paying tribute to the successes on the pitch of both Northern Ireland and the Republic in the years since, believes that a combined team could only do even better, especially at a time when, as he notes, the influx of foreign players in English football means that young players from Ireland “aren’t getting blooded any more at the top level.”
The Newry man also gave his backing to the topical concept of an All-Ireland League.
“It has to improve players to play against better individuals week in and week out and it would create more interest as well. Supporters aren’t frightened of travelling any more and I think it would be great for the game to have a united Ireland situation where they’re playing each other North and South. The Setanta Cup has been good for the game and I’m sure the players would look forward to a full-time league.”
Martin O’Neill recalled with wonder some of the memories he had of playing against Brazil as a 21-year-old midfielder with Nottingham Forest.
“There was the thrill of playing with Johnny Giles, a wonder player, in midfield. And I remember lining up for the game and looking at some of the Brazilian players who played in the 1970 World Cup — which might still be considered the finest international side that ever played. To be playing against some of them — Clodoaldo, whose shirt I got, Rivelino, Jairzinho — made it a phenomenal day.”
2/4/08
Line-up Completed For UEFA Under-17 Championship Finals
Ireland will participate in the UEFA European Under-17 Championships from May 4-16 in the Mediterranean resort of Antalya, Turkey alongside the other seven finalists who were confirmed this week.
The draw for the Championships will be made in this Thursday evening at 6.30pm (local time).
Two groups of four will be contested with the winner and runner-up from each pool progressing to the semi-finals.
Sean McCaffrey’s Ireland squad sealed their place at the showpiece by topping their four-nation Elite group on March 18.
Ireland won the group, which was staged in Galway and Athlone, by virtue of goal difference after Portugal, Germany, Greece and the Irish had completed their series of three games with four points apiece.
Turkey had qualified automatically as hosts but the seven Elite groups qualifying pools were played to a climax over the past fortnight.
Four of the competition's six previous winners, since the tournament began in 2002, will be involved.
These include holders Spain, who beat Italy 1-0 on Monday in Romania to top Elite round Group Six.
Turkey were victorious in 2005, France lifted the trophy in 2004 and Switzerland, who won Group Two thanks to an injury-time strike by goalkeeper René Borkovic against Croatia in the decisive last game, were the inaugural champions.
The Netherlands will compete at the finals for the third time in four seasons after emerging through Group 7 as victors.
Serbia also qualified on Monday after gaining the required point from their final group tie in a 1-1 draw against Sweden.
Scotland were the only side in the Elite series to have a 100 per cent record. They defeated Northern Ireland, Wales and Slovania on their way to topping Group Five.
Ireland have been champions of Europe before, in 1998, when UEFA ran the event as an Under-16 tournament. UEFA changed the age-level to Under-17 in 2002.
UEFA European Under-17 Championship finalists
Hosts: Turkey
Group 1: Ireland
Group 2: Switzerland
Group 3: France
Group 4: Serbia
Group 5: Scotland
Group 6: Spain (holders)
Group 7: Netherlands.
22/2/08
Tardelli joins the Boys In Green
Giovanni Trapattoni has confirmed that Marco Tardelli will be his assistant on the Ireland bench.
The new tactician was contacted by news agency ANSA and told them the decision had already been made, despite reports he would call on Arsenal youth Coach Liam Brady.
Tardelli took the Under-21 European Championship with Italy in 2000 and won the 1982 World Cup as a player with Italy. Most recently he was fired from jobs at Inter and Bari, then resigned as a director at Juventus.
Trapattoni faces a tough test if he is to take Ireland to the 2010 World Cup, especially as Italy are in the same group and they’ll cross paths on April 1, 2009.
“I have no desire to seek revenge,” assured the 68-year-old. “If I could have, I would’ve avoided Italy in the 2010 qualifiers.
“Clearly when we do face them, I will try to help Ireland to beat the Azzurri, the world champions.”
Earlier this evening he held a Press Conference to present himself to the Irish media.
"Ireland are not a second-rate team, they are supposed to be a first-rate team," insisted Trapattoni.
"Qualifying for the World Cup in 2010 will be hard, and playing against the Italian team will make me proud, but it should be possible for Ireland to come first."
13/2/07
Ireland Manager Giovanni Trapattoni
11/2/08
Trapattoni set to become new Ireland manager
Former Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni will become Ireland manager once his contract with Austrian club Salzburg ends in May after agreeing in principle to a deal.
'The intention is we will have a meeting on Wednesday of the board and management to ratify Trapattoni and it is expected he will be announced officially as the new manager on Thursday night,' a senior Football Association of Ireland (FAI) source who declined to be identified said on Monday.
In a move similar to new England coach Fabio Capello's inclusion of former defender Stuart Pearce on his backroom team, the FAI is to hand a role to ex-Ireland international Liam Brady.
'Brady will have a role in the backroom staff,' said the source. 'What that role is will of course be up to the new manager.'
Former midfield general Brady, who played under Trapattoni at Juventus in the early 1980s, will take on the Ireland role while remaining as head of Arsenal's academy.
Former England coach Terry Venables had also been in the running for the manager's job.
'Venables was a very credible candidate but this appointment (of Trapattoni) raises the bar for future appointments of Irish managers and sends a signal the FAI was bold enough and had the money to get a top-class candidate,' said the source.
'The three-man committee (headed by caretaker coach Don Givens) are all convinced Trapattoni was the right man for the job.'
The FAI are also seeking to appoint a new director of football.
The source said Brady was not in contention for that role as he had not obtained the relevant coaching badges.
'The FAI has appointed a team of headhunters to look for a high-profile candidate in a bid to make sure we have new talent in the future,' added the source.
Former manager Steve Staunton's contract was terminated in October after Ireland failed to qualify for Euro 2008 and the FAI has faced criticism over the protracted process to find a successor.
According to a report in the Irish Independent, the FAI were preparing to pay Trapattoni up to €2 million a year.
3/2/08
Still no white smoke from Abbottstown - Latest FAI statement
Don Givens, the Chairman of the Selection Panel set up to recruit the next manager of the Republic of Ireland senior international team, tonight met with the Board of Management of the Football Association of Ireland to update them on the process.
He gave the ten Board members a progress report on the work done by himself and the other members of the Selection Panel, Ray Houghton and Don Howe, since he last spoke to the Board.
He indicated that the Panel’s work will be completed within ten days and that an appointment is imminent.
The Board expressed their satisfaction with the progress report.
24/1/08
Derry well represented in Ireland u19 squad
Derry players David McDaid and Seamus Sharkey will make their Ireland international debuts next month after being named in Sean McCafrrey's u19 squad for the friendly double header against the Czech Republic on February the 5th & 7th. Fellow Derry native Ruairi Harkin also returns to the squad after missing the last two u19 internationals due to the IFA's failed attempts at blocking Irish players from the North representing Ireland.
Shane Redmond (Nottingham Forest)
James McKeown (Peterborough United)
Cian Hughton (Tottenham Hotspur)
Garry Breen (Manchester City)
Gavin Donoghue (Sunderland)
Seamus Sharkey (Derry City)
Julian Kelly (Reading)
Ian Bermingham (UCD)
Danny Earls (Aston Villa)
Graham Carey (Celtic)
James Berrett (Huddersfield Town)
James McCarthy (Hamilton Academical)
Harry Arter (Charlton Athletic)
Paul Cahillane (Celtic)
Donal McDermott (Manchester City)
David Hutton (Tottenham Hotspur)
Sean Scannell (Crystal Palace)
David McDaid (Derry City)
Ian Daly (Manchester City)
Ruairi Harkin (Charlton Athletic)
Ireland Squad v Brazil announced
| Name | Date of Birth | Caps | Goals |
| Goalkeepers | |||
| Shay Given (Newcastle United) | 20/04/76 | 85 | 0 |
| Joe Murphy (Scunthorpe United) | 21/08/81 | 1 | 0 |
| Colin Doyle (Birmingham City) | 31/08/77 | 1 | 0 |
| Defenders | |||
| Stephen Kelly (Birmingham City) | 06/09/83 | 9 | 0 |
| John O’Shea (Manchester United) | 30/04/81 | 43 | 1 |
| Andy O’Brien (Bolton Wanderers) | 29/06/79 | 26 | 1 |
| Joey O’Brien (Bolton Wanderers) | 17/02/86 | 3 | 0 |
| Kevin Kilbane (Wigan Athletic) | 01/02/77 | 86 | 7 |
| Richard Dunne (Manchester City) | 21/09/79 | 39 | 5 |
| Paul McShane (Sunderland) | 01/06/86 | 9 | 0 |
| Midfielders | |||
| Lee Carsley (Everton) | 28/02/74 | 38 | 0 |
| Andy Reid (Charlton Athletic) | 29/07/82 | 27 | 4 |
| Steven Reid (Blackburn Rovers) | 10/03/81 | 20 | 2 |
| Aiden McGeady (Celtic) | 04/04/86 | 16 | 0 |
| Stephen Hunt (Reading) | 01/08/81 | 9 | 0 |
| Liam Miller (Sunderland) | 13/02/81 | 15 | 1 |
| Damien Duff (Newcastle United) | 02/03/79 | 66 | 7 |
| Attackers | |||
| Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotstpur) | 08/07/80 | 78 | 32 |
| Kevin Doyle (Reading) | 18/09/83 | 15 | 5 |
| Shane Long (Reading) | 22/05/87 | 7 | 3 |
| Daryl Murphy (Sunderland) | 15/03/83 | 6 | 0 |
Ireland world cup 2010 fixtures
6th September 2008: Georgia v Ireland
10th September 2008: Montenegro v Ireland
15th October 2008: Ireland v Cyprus
11th February 2009: Ireland v Georgia
28th March 2009: Ireland v Bulgaria
1st April 2009: Italy v Ireland
6th June 2009: Bulgaria v Ireland
5th September 2009: Cyprus v Ireland
10th October 2009: Ireland v Italy
14th October 2009: Ireland v Montenegro
24/12/07
Man Utd extend Gibson's Wolves loan
Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson has extended his loan spell at Wolves until the end of the season.
The 20-year-old Ireland international started his three-month loan in October and has since made eight starts for the Championship club.
Gibson can now provide cover for Nigerian Seyi Olofinjana, who heads to the African Cup of Nations in January.
"Darron's a good footballer and has done well since he came here," boss Mick McCarthy told the Wolves website.
16/12/07
One Team In Ireland
The Football Association of Ireland welcomes the decision of FIFA’s Executive Committee to leave the current regulations regarding the eligibility of players to represent association teams unchanged.
An FAI spokesman said: “In October 2006, FIFA’s Legal Department ruled that players born in Northern Ireland are entitled to play for the Republic of Ireland if they choose.
“Following today’s Executive Committee meeting, senior FIFA sources have confirmed to us that the status quo remains and the FAI may continue to select players born in Northern Ireland who declare that they wish to play for Ireland.”
12/12/07
Ireland to play Serbia in International Friendly
An FAI spokesman said, “When the draw for the 2010 World Cup was made last month in South Africa, it was apparent that we drew the toughest 6th seed opponents in Montenegro. We feel that the Serbia friendly will provide a vital opportunity for us to test ourselves against a technically strong team and in terms of playing style, they are very similar to Montenegro.”
In 2006 Serbia & Montenegro featured at the finals of the FIFA World Cup in Germany, in which the newly independent states of Serbia and Montenegro competed under the same flag for the last time but did not progress past the group stage which featured Argentina, the Netherlands and Côte d'Ivoire.
In Serbia’s first major campaign, the White Eagles missed out on EURO 2008 qualification by three points in Group A where Portugal and Poland secured their final places.
Sunday 25th November
Qualifying draw for 2010 World Cup
Italy
Bulgaria
Ireland
Cyprus
Georgia
Montenegro
Tuesday 20th November
Tuesday 6th November
World governing body Fifa has suggested that players born in the North of Ireland should continue to be allowed to opt to play for Ireland.
This is the same ruling made by FIFA twice during 2006, when the North's football association were trying to block Irish players representing their country at international level.
Fifa's legal committee wrote to Irish FA officials in the north and their FAI counterparts in Ireland outlining their view on the long-running dispute.
The FAI welcomed the decision by FIFA and described it as 'a common sense approach'.
'In principle we are very happy with the decision and delighted that common sense has prevailed,' FAI chief executive John Delaney told Reuters news agency.
'We will discuss and evaluate the proposal put forward. We have worked hard behind the scenes with FIFA to reach a compromise which was right. It is good news for Irish football.'
"We are pleased that Fifa has once again upheld the principle that players born in Northern Ireland should be free to choose whether they wish to play for the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland," said an FAI statement.
Ireland squad for Wales qualifier
Blackburn Rovers midfielder Steven Reid and Bolton Wanderers defender Andy O'Brien have been named in the Ireland squad for the first time in over a year.
The duo have been included by caretaker manager Don Givens in a 22-man squad for the side's final Euro 2008 qualifier away to Wales on Saturday, 17 November.
Republic of Ireland squad for Euro 2008 qualifying group D match against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday, 17 November:
Given (Newcastle), J Murphy (Scunthorpe), C Doyle (Birmingham); Finnan (Liverpool), Kelly (Birmingham), Dunne (Man City), McShane (Sunderland), A O'Brien (Bolton), J O'Brien (Bolton), O'Shea (Man Utd); McGeady (Celtic), Carsley (Everton), Douglas (Leeds), S Reid (Blackburn), A Reid (Charlton), Miller (Sunderland), Hunt (Reading), Kilbane (Wigan); Keane (Tottenham), D Murphy (Sunderland), Stokes (Sunderland), K Doyle (Reading).
Friday 26th October
Nationalist anger grows over IFA campaign against young players
Thursday 25th October
John Delaney was forced to admit that he had got it wrong regarding the appointment of Steve Staunton 2 years ago.. As the search began for a successor to Steve Staunton, the departed Ireland manager, the FAI announced a new approach to filling the position.
Instead of the previous three-man subcommittee, with Delaney the prime mover in Staunton’s arrival in January 2006, the FAI is to employ a team of experienced football “advisors” to provide a shortlist of candidates for the job. When it has been whittled down to one person, the FAI will approve the appointment.
“We did speak with former players as we went about our business but I am certain – and the people on the board are certain – that we are better off with people within the game,” Delaney said.
“It will be a number of consultants who will be appointed and they will come to us with one name. We will then ratify that regardless of any reservations. When they come with a name and the parameters of a salary and a package, then we will get involved.”
Members of the FAI board met Staunton on Tuesday night. A severance agreement – believed to be in the region of €500,000 (about £349,000) – was reached for the remaining two years of his four-year contract. Don Givens, the Ireland Under-21 manager, will act as caretaker for the match against Wales in Cardiff on November 17.
The FAI hopes to have installed Staunton’s replacement before the friendly against Brazil at Croke Park in February. Liam Brady, Arsenal’s head of youth development and academy manager, has emerged as a leading contender, although Arsène Wenger is not keen for the former Ireland midfield player to leave the club.
Saturday 20th October
Gibson delighted with Wolves debut
Friday 19th October
Steve Staunton's reign as Ireland manager looks to be coming to an end as the FAI's chief executive, John Delaney, basically threw him to the wolves during an interview on RTE'S Six One news yesterday evening.
Delaney refused to back the manager and instead tried to distance himself from any part of the decision making process that led to the appointment of Staunton "Three people made the appointment," said Delaney. "It was a sub-committee of the FAI of three people who made the appointment of the management team. "It's unfortunate that I've been personally linked to the appointment when there was a sub-committee of three which was ratified by the board of the FAI, which is a committee of 10."
A strange comment from Delaney considering he is the association's top official, and 'he' had led a three-man sub-committee charged with finding a successor to Brian Kerr whose reign ended two years ago tomorrow. FAI president David Blood and the association's honorary secretary Michael Cody were the other two officials involved"
Delaney concluded the RTE interview by branding yesterday a "tough day for anybody involved in Irish football", but when pressed would not accept blame for the current state of the national team. "The chief executive can't play on an international football pitch and score goals, if I could I'd love to," he said. 
sunday 14th October
Germany duly claimed their place at next summer's Euro 2008 finals, leaving Ireland requiring the mother of all mathematical miracles to join them. For only the second time in nine Group D qualifying matches the Germans dropped points, and on another night the scoreline would have been a respectable one from an Irish point of view. But manager Steve Staunton's side came into the game at Croke Park needing a victory, and now they are staring grimly at the prospect of missing out on playing at a major tournament for the third successive occasion.
Ireland need to win their final two matches against Cyprus on Wednesday and then Wales next month, whilst hoping the Czech Republic lose all three of their remaining matches.By that reckoning, they should start preparing in earnest for the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign that will start next September. They had the best opportunity of what was largely an uninspiring 90 minutes, but captain Robbie Keane squandered the gilt-edged chance, and with it went the last realistic hope of qualifying.
The Irish crowd at least played their part immediately before kick-off by generating an electric atmosphere; but it is unfortunate that what followed on the pitch barely crackled. That was not helped by Staunton's team selection as he opted to hand Andy Keogh his first competitive start by playing the Wolves striker on the right wing.Due to defensive deficiencies, Bolton right-back Joey O'Brien returned to international football 19 months after winning his first cap by partnering Richard Dunne at the heart of the back four.
Birmingham right-back Stephen Kelly was switched to left-back, with John O'Shea failing a fitness test on a leg injury. Germany were not without their problems either as coach Joachim Low came into the game without Michael Ballack, Tim Borowski, Bernd Schneider, Roberto Hilbert and Miroslav Klose.
After 17 minutes he then lost another key midfielder in Bayern Munich's Bastian Schweinsteiger following a nasty, but accidental clash of heads with Wigan winger Kevin Kilbane. It was Schweinsteiger who came off worse as blood poured from a wound on the top of his forehead, and despite treatment, he was eventually replaced by Simon Rolfes. After three minutes on the sidelines, Kilbane returned nursing a gash just above his left eye.
But it was while Ireland had a temporary numerical advantage that Germany created the first chance of a low-key first half. In the 16th minute Mario Gomez, surprisingly preferred ahead of Lukas Podolski in attack, steered a low left-wing cross from Marcell Jansen inches over the crossbar. Ireland appreciably worked hard, but were woefully short of ideas, epitomised by the fact they created just one notable chance in the opening period. Kelly and Charlton's Andy Reid, fit after shaking off an ankle injury, combined to set up Keane. But the Tottenham striker saw his shot from a tight angle blocked by Jens Lehmann, the goalkeeper out of favour at Arsenal but clearly Low's first choice on the international front.
The best chance prior to the interval arrived in the 37th minute, with Steve Finnan clearing off the line a near-post header from Christoph Metzelder after rising unchallenged to a Clemens Fritz corner. Amazing what a half-time break can do as the opening five minutes of the second period contained more action than the preceding 45 - and Ireland should have taken the lead. Their initial opportunity was fortuitous as Lee Carsley, booked in the first half and who will now miss the home game with Cyprus on Wednesday, merely hung up a cross to the far post from a short corner that had a back-tracking Lehmann scrambling to tip the ball over the bar. The second moments later Keane should have buried as he beat the offside trap.
But with only Lehmann to beat, the Republic's all-time 31-goal leading scorer tamely fluffed his attempted chip from 12 yards into the welcoming arms of Germany's veteran goalkeeper. Sadly, the mundane then returned, with the Germans holding on as they failed to force Shay Given into any kind of action. Fritz blazed over, as did Podolski when he came on for Gomez in the 64th minute, whilst he also drilled another effort wide. Ireland pressed in the closing stages, but they never looked like breaching the German defence, leaving the majority of a 67,000 Croke Park crowd bitterly disappointed.
Friday 12th October
ICE BROADBAND SPONSOR IRELAND GERMANY FAN FEST
ICE broadband which provides a leading wireless broadband and phone service throughout the country is to sponsor the independently organised and arranged Fanfest between Ireland and Germany supporters in McDowell’s of Inchicore ahead of the Euro2008 qualifier at Croke Park, on Saturday 13 October.
Speaking of the sponsorship, Mr Fran Rooney, Executive Chairman, Ice Broadband said, “Ice Broadband are delighted to be in a position to support this initiative of bringing fans of the two Country’s together in the spirit of sporting friendship. I’ve always believed the fans are one of the most important contributors to football in Ireland that their commitment and efforts should be rewarded.”
Shay Clarke, IT Manager Ice Broadband added, “As a long time Irish football fan I happy to avail of the facilities laid on by the Germans in Stuttgart, and always believed we should reciprocate and together with a few like thinking Ireland supporters got together to organise a similar welcome to our German friends.”
This independently organised event arose following a similar event in Stuttgart, Germany in September of 2006 when the official German Fan Club hosted a pre-match party inviting Ireland fans to join them in a show of solidarity and friendship.
The Fanfest, a charity event with all proceeds going to Headway, The Irish National Association for Acquired Brain Injury will start at 1pm.
Coaches have been arranged to transport fans from Dublin City centre, Clifton Court Hotel, Eden Quay, to McDowell’s and then at 6pm transporting the fans over to Croke Park for the game.
Everyone is invited to join in and there is no entrance fee.
Tuesday 9th October
Former Ireland manager Mick McCarthy is delighted to bring Darron Gibson to Championship club Wolverhampton Wanderers on loan until January.
The 19-year old midfielder was set to make his first appearance of the season for Manchester United in last month’s Carling Cup tie against Coventry City but was ruled out with a broken toe he sustained in a reserve team friendly against Sporting Lisbon.
However, he has recovered in time to be included in the Republic of Ireland Under-21 squad for the friendly match against Sweden this Friday in Uppsala (5.30pm) and the vital UEFA Championship game against England at Turner’s Cross next Tuesday, October 16th (8pm).
The manager of Ireland's U21 team, Don Givens, today welcomed the development. "At this stage of his career Darron needs games and joining Wolves will help him advance his career" he said.
Mick McCarthy feels that Gibson will expand the midfield options for his promotion-chasing team during his three-month stay.
"Darron is a talented midfielder that will bring us real competition for places in central midfield," he commented on the official Wolves website.
"He is only 19 but he is a good player and has a good range of passing."
The Derry-born youngster links up with a sizeable Irish contingent at Molineux that includes Andrew Keogh, Stephen Elliott, Kevin Foley, Stephen Ward, Darren Potter, Gary Breen and fellow loan signing Graham Stack.
Gibson has played one game for the Red Devils - as a substitute against Barnet at Old Trafford in a Carling Cup match two years ago.
Gibson is likely to play an important role for Ireland when they play England.
“I have seen a lot of Championship matches this season and I am pleased that he is going to Wolves” said Givens, “he needs games at this point of his career and Wolves play football in the right way.
“They will be up there and they are in with a shout for promotion so he is joining a serious team with serious ambitions. Anything that helps his development is good for the young man and I see this as a very positive step.”
Givens will take a squad of 18 players to Sweden on Wednesday for Friday’s friendly match but, of necessity, he will not have all of his first choice players available.
Monday 8th October
Bolton Wanderer's centre-half Andy O'Brien has been called into the Ireland squad for their upcoming fixtures against Germany and Cyprus.
Ireland boss Steve Staunton has called up the former Newcastle United and Portsmouth player as defensive cover for Manchester United's John O'Shea who picked up an injury on Saturday.
O'Shea received a dead leg during United's victory over Wigan Athletic on Saturday and is now rated as doubtful for the Croke Park fixtures.
Tuesday 2nd October
Squad announced for Germany & Cyprus games
Nick Colgan - Barnsley
Colin Doyle - Birmingham City
Shay Given - Newcastle United
Stephen Carr - Newcastle United
Richard Dunne - Manchester City
Steve Finnan - Liverpool
Stephen Kelly - Birmingham City
Paul McShane - Sunderland
Joey O’Brien - Bolton Wanderers
John O’Shea - Manchester United
Lee Carsley - Everton
Jonathon Douglas - Leeds United
Stephen Hunt - Reading
Stephen Ireland - Manchester City
Kevin Kilbane - Wigan Athletic
Aiden McGeady - Celtic
Alan O’Brien - Hibernian
Darren Potter - Wolverhampton Wanderers
Andy Reid - Charlton Athletic
Kevin Doyle - Reading
Stephen Elliot - Wolverhampton Wanderers
Robbie Keane - Tottenham Hotspur
Andy Keogh - Wolverhampton Wanderers
Shane Long - Reading
Daryl Murphy - Sunderland
Sunday 30th September
Givens announces squads for Ireland Under-21 double bill
Ireland Under-21 manager Don Givens today announced his squads for the forthcoming matches against Sweden and England.
The Ireland Under-21 side travel to Sweden for a friendly match on October 12 before taking on England in a European Championship qualifier at Turner’s Cross on October 16.
Six players new to the Under-21 set-up – Shane Supple, Keith Keane, Michael Spillane, Alan Power, Alan Sheehan and Keith Treacy - have been called-up to the squad to face Sweden. The match will also see Manchester United’s Darron Gibson and Sunderland’s Anthony Stokes return to Under-21 action.
Don Givens said: “Given that it’s a friendly, and also due to the fact that the eircom League of Ireland and the lower divisions in England will be playing that weekend, we have brought in a few new faces for the Sweden game. It will be a good opportunity for the new lads to come in and show what they can do.”
As well as seeing new players, Givens said that the Sweden match would be an ideal time to welcome Anthony Stokes back into the squad: “Anthony was left out of the squad for our match against Portugal and the reasons behind that were well documented. However, that is all in the past now and I am happy to welcome Anthony back into the squad. He is a very talented footballer and we all want to see him make headlines for the right reasons. Hopefully that can begin against Sweden.”
Givens said that the match against Sweden would be good preparation for what will be a tough match against England at Turner’s Cross: “It’s going to be a big test. The English Under-21 squad is made-up of players who play regular Premiership football. Players who play regular Premiership football – the likes of Theo Walcott, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Tom Huddlestone – are used to playing at this level. But we have quality in our squad too and we’re capable of putting it up to them. We’re really looking forward to the game and hopefully it will be a full house in Turner’s Cross for what should be a great match.”
Thursday 27th September
| Alan Pardew says Ireland international Andy Reid is going nowhere after the player gave his word he will at least see the season out with Charlton.
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| Reid has been in fine form for the Addicks this season and there have been suggestions he could return to the Premiership when the transfer window re-opens. "I've certainly got an agreement with Andy Reid that he will stay here a year and one of the reasons I gave him the captaincy was to have that promise from him," Pardew revealed. "I think he is an honourable person and I've got nothing written down and don't need anything in terms of a contract for that. He's made me that promise and I've promised him I'm going to look after him and make sure he plays. |
Monday 24th September
Wolves manager Mick McCarthy singled out the performance of Ireland striker Andy Keogh after he helped Wolves claim a 2-0 win over a lacklustre Norwich side at Molineux.
Keogh added a second goal in the 34th minute with a fine individual effort after fellow Irishman Kevin Foley had given the hosts the lead 12 minutes earlier.
Keogh picked up the ball on the edge of the centre circle as Wolves went on the counter attack.
The striker evaded several challenges before dribbling past Norwich defender Gary Doherty and striking the ball low into the bottom-left corner and past the static David Marshall. Earlier a fine strike from defender Foley had put McCarthy's side ahead although they were guilty of missing several other chances as Norwich were reduced to nine men.
"Andy Keogh was brilliant, he's been putting the ball in the net all the time in training so I am delighted for him," McCarthy said.
"He is the one person here who thoroughly deserved to stay in the team because of his effort.
"Somebody who works as hard as he does earns a right to play football for this club and although people were asking
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