Quinn out of u21 game -
October 10, 2000 Ireland u21 manager Don Givens' attempt to placate club managers by releasing key players between important European qualifiers has backfired badly. Givens released Port Vale's Dean Delaney and Sheffield Wednesday's Alan Quinn after Friday's defeat to Portugal to play for their clubs at the weekend. The two were meant to rejoin the Irish squad yesterday ahead of tonight's qualifier against Estonia at Buckley Park, Kilkenny. Delaney - thankfully - sat on the bench for Port Vale. But Quinn picked up an injury playing for his club and has been ruled out of tonight's game. Leeds' Damien Lynch gets his first start instead of Quinn, while Tranmere's Joe Murphy replaces Delaney on merit. But Quinn's unavailability puts a serious question mark against the manager's judgement. Givens is already under heavy pressure after losing six of his first seven games in charge - including Ireland's first two Euro qualifiers, against Holland and Portugal. On paper, Givens has assembled what is probably Ireland's best ever squad at this level. Anything other than a resounding win tonight will add to that pressure. Ireland u21 v Estonia:
Joe Murphy (Tranmere), Colin Healy (Glasgow Celtic), John O'Shea (Manchester United), Jason Gavin (Middlesbrough), Clive Clarke (Stoke City), Barry Quinn (Coventry), Damien Lynch (Leeds), James O'Connor (Stoke City), Graham Barrett (Arsenal), Michael Reddy (Sunderland), Gary Doherty
(Tottenham)
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