Givens keeps the faith - March 14, 2001
Republic of Ireland u21 manager Don Givens has announced his squad for the forthcoming European qualifiers against Cyprus and Andorra - and he has stuck as closely as possible to the panel chosen for the aborted Denmark friendly last month.
That's hardly surprising, seeing as none of the players got the chance to play himself out of contention. Tranmere 'keeper Joe Murphy, who cried off the Danish match because of club commitments, is restored and the only changes are due to injury.
Defenders Brian O'Callaghan (Barnsley), Liam Miller (Celtic) and Damien Lynch (Leeds United) are injured, so Shaun Byrne (West Ham), John Thompson (Nottm Forest) and Andy O'Brien (Bradford) - who was inadvertently omitted from the squad to face Denmark - come in.
Givens left O'Brien out last time because he assumed Mick McCarthy was going to include the Bradford centre back in the senior squad. But McCarthy ditched O'Brien when Kenny Cunningham became unexpectedly available!
Lynch's unavailability is tough luck: he is being released by Leeds at the end of the season and needs these games to showcase his talents.
Republic of Ireland u21 v Cyprus and Andorra:
Goalkeepers: Joe Murphy (Tranmere Rovers), Dean Delaney (Port Vale)
Defenders: Shaun Byrne (West Ham), John McGrath (Aston Villa), Clive Clarke (Stoke City), John Thompson (Nottingham Forest), John O'Shea (Manchester United), Jason Gavin (Middlesbrough), Andy O'Brien (Bradford)
Midfielders: Barry Quinn (Coventry City), Steven Reid (Millwall), Keith Foy (Nottingham Forest), Alan Quinn (Sheffield Wednesday), Colin Healy (Celtic), James O'Connor (Stoke City)
Forwards: Michael Reddy (Sunderland), Liam George (Luton), Richard Sadlier (Millwall)