Kinsella's stock rises another notch - November 14, 2000 Golden boy (well 28-year-old man) of Irish football Mark Kinsella has been handed to captain's armband for the game against Finland on Wednesday after Roy Keane withdrew from the squad. It is no more than the Eircom/FAI senior international player of the year deserves after his world class shows in the green in both Holland and Portugal. A fit Roy Keane will always be first choice for the captain's armband but Kinsella is an able deputy when Keane is not available. He captains Charlton, who are having a great time in the Premiership this season, and is a leader of men because of his class on the field. The amiable Dubliner would run himself into the ground for the cause and that is reasoning enough for him to get the nod ahead of more experienced internationals. With the armband comes the responsibility of slotting into Roy Keane's position in midfield as the holder of the game leaving time and space for the other midfielder's to get forward and help the Irish cause in front of goal. This will be no problem for Kinsella and with Matt Holland beside him, another club captain, the future of the Irish midfield looks rosy. Dominic Foley could get a start because of the absence of Niall Quinn and with Michael Reddy and John O'Shea called up to train with the squad things look good for Ireland for a long time to come. "I would have been tempted to have a look at Dominic in any case, even if the whole squad had been here," said Mick McCarthy "The only question would have been whether it would have been from the start. As for Mattie, there's no doubt that he'll play". |