Kerr forced to make changes - October 13, 2000

Brian Kerr's Ireland u18 squad fly out today for their European Championship qualifying tournament in the Czech Republic - and once again the manager has been forced into a series of late changes.

Already without the injured Alan McDermott (Manchester United) and Anthony Shevlin (Nottm Forest), Kerr has been hit by the withdrawal of Forest's Niall Hudson and Wolves' Colin Larkin.

Stephen Brennan (Newcastle) and Ger Robinson (Middlesbrough) have been drafted in as replacements.

Ireland face the Czechs on Sunday in a tough start to the tournament, with games against Moldova (Tuesday) and Bulgaria (Thursday) to follow.

The Czechs are favourite to reach next summer's finals, having finished fourth and second in the last two European u16 Championships.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge," Kerr said.

Rep of Ireland u18 revised squad: Roche (Nottm Forest), Henderson (Aston Villa), Tierney (Manchester  Utd), Byrne (Sunderland), Coleman (Wolves), Murphy (QPR), Murray (Blackburn), Van Zantan (Celtic), Gamble (Reading), Cawley (Leeds), Thornton (Tranmere Rovers), Field (Celtic), Cash (Nottm Forest), Robinson (Middlesbrough), Doyle (Blackburn), Reid (Nottm Forest), Brennan (Newcastle).