Irish international stories - June 2000

Light at the end of the tunnel for Ireland! - June 30, 2000
Most pundits have already written off Ireland's chances of qualifying for the next World Cup because of their grouping with both Holland and Portugal - but with the two countries going out of Euro 2000 in controversial circumstances at the semi-final stage things now look brighter for Ireland.
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Kerr names Milk Cup squad - June 27, 2000
Ireland's youth supremo, Brian Kerr, has picked his squad for the Milk Cup u16 tournament which will be held in Northern Ireland in July. Kerr is making a strange move by bringing an international squad to a club tournament but the experience will do his young charges no harm.
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Ireland beat South Africa - June 12, 2000
Ireland 2 South Africa 1
The Republic of Ireland wrapped up the US Nike Cup with a fortunate win against South Africa at the Giants Stadium, New York last night. Ireland recovered from going a goal down in the searing heat to turn the tie and finally win 2-1.
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Ireland relinquish two goal lead - June 12, 2000
Ireland u17s 2 Portugal u17s 3
The Republic of Ireland looked certain to win the Lisbon Invitational Tournament after 30 minutes of the last game against the hosts Portugal. After beating both the USA and Norway 1-0 in their opening two games with goals from Blackburn's Robert Doyle the Irish went into the last game in confident mood..
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Shay Brennan dies suddenly - June 10, 2000
Shay Brennan, a member of the legendary Manchester United European Cup winning side of 1968 - and predecessor of Irish heroes like Mick McCarthy, Ray Houghton and John Aldridge - as he was the first player to be capped for Ireland under the granny rule, passed away suddenly yesterday doing what he loved to do best, playing golf in Tramore where he has lived for a number of years.
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Irish continue winning ways - June 10, 2000
Brian Kerr's Ireland U-17 team continued their good form at the Lisbon Invitational Tournament with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Norway - Robert Doyle grabbing the winner just six minutes before full-time.
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Ireland look to finish US Cup with a flourish - June 9
After two draws in the US Nike Cup Ireland have a chance of finishing with a win when they face a young South African team on Sunday at the Giants Stadium in New York. If McCarthy's young charges cannot get a win against South Africa, who have rolled over against both the USA and Mexico, he will be very disappointed.
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Ireland beat the US - June 9
Ireland u17 1 USA u17 0
Brian Kerr's injury ravaged u17 team showed the seniors how to beat the Yanks. Despite losing over half their first picks for the Lisbon Invitational Tournament, Kerr's youngsters were far too good for the Americans and the 1-0 scoreline was an unrealistic reflection on the game.
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Department of Defence rebutt FAI claims - June 8
The Department of Defence are fuming at comments made by the FAI. The football governing body claimed that there was a political agenda to block Eircom Park but the Army deny that they have any agenda against the FAI.
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Ireland robbed in Boston - June 7, 2000
Ireland were deprived of what would have been a notable scalp in the US Nike Cup in Boston early this morning. A scratch Irish side looked set to earn a merited win until Ante Razov scored a 68th-minute equaliser from a blatantly offside position.
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Kerr's injury list grows - June 7, 2000
Another two players have been forced to pull out of Brian Kerr's Ireland u17 squad for a prestigious international tournament in Portugal. Colin Larkin - who has already seen first-team action at Wolves - and Anthony Shevlin of Nottingham Forest are the latest withdrawals.
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Ireland's mission improbable! - June 6, 2000
Ireland go into tonight's game against the USA in the US Nike Cup with history and recent form against them. The Irish went into the tournament in 1992 on the back of a 4-1 victory over the Yanks at Lansdowne Road a month beforehand but still ended up losing 3-1 in Washington, with Ireland manager Mick McCarthy scoring the only goal.
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Kerr forced into changes to u17 squad - June 6, 2000
Brian Kerr has been forced into a rethink about his u17 squad which travels to Portugal this week for an international friendly tournament. He lost the services of five (Barry Roche, Niall Hudson, Brian Cash, Niall McNamara and Andy Reid) of the six Nottingham Forest players who were in his original squad because of club commitments. The loss forced Kerr into calling four more players into his squad.
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Celtic countries could host Euro finals - June 6, 2000
The Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales could bid to host the European Championship Finals in 2008. Following the lead of Holland and Belgium, who will co-host this year's competition, the Celtic cousins could host the competition if the FAI have Eircom Park built in time. This is not a sure thing as they proposed project runs into new stumbling blocks every day.
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Ireland recover for draw against Mexico - June 4, 2000
Republic of Ireland 2 Mexico 2
The US Cup has always been unkind to the Irish over the years and it looked like it was going to be no different this year as Mick McCarthy's team opened their three-match campaign against a very weak Mexican team.
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Mexican muddle - June 2, 2000
Ireland have serious selection problems for the US Cup. Mick McCarthy's players are dropping like flies with Fulham's Steve Finnan the latest to pull out of his squad - but spare a though for the Mexicans. They will go into the competition with a club team rather than their international side.
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Eircom Park hit with £31m stumbling block - June 2, 2000
FAI chief executive Bernard O'Byrne has hit back at critics of the proposed Eircom Park Stadium. Media reports say the FAI's Eircom Park dream is in serious trouble after it was disclosed that there is a shortfall of £31.4m to finish the job.
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Staunton and Duff out of US trip - June 1, 2000
Steve Staunton and Damien Duff are the latest players to withdraw from the Irish squad that travels to America today for the Nike Cup.
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Unrecognisable Irish beaten by Scotland - May 31, 2000
The Republic of Ireland lost 2-1 against a Don Hutchison-inspired Scotland at Lansdowne Road last night despite taking the lead after two minutes.
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