Which players in your opinion got too many or too few senior international caps?

**Manc Irish Wolf** · 05/04/2009, 10:04 PM

Originally Posted by Greenbod

I know he's judged now on his u-21 management job but you wouldn't say the above if you'd been around to see his 7 goals against Russia and Turkey in '74/'75. He deserved every cap he got and held the top scoring record for us for about 10 years before Stapleton passed him out. He was also very proud to represent his country.....

"Nothing means half as much as standing when the national anthem is playing, " Don reflects on his international career. "When I stood for the national anthem during my first game at home against Hungary, it was probably the biggest thing that I'll remember. It's what separates international football from club football. I think that's something I'll never forget."

That statement was more said in jest, as I know that he was highly regarded and had a good goalscoring record, which I dare say was a joy to watch.

However, not being born then, my only interest is in the future of the team and it just seems such a pity that Don doesn't recall the pride he felt in representing his country more vividly when he sets about his pedantic ways trying to sabotage other young players dreams and ambitions through his continual petty arguments.

**Fizzer** · 05/04/2009, 10:26 PM

Jeff Kenna probably didn't get enough caps. Just unfortunate he was around at a time when we had loads of quality full backs. We could do with them now.

**zenokelly** · 05/04/2009, 10:32 PM

Most have been posted already. 1 from each that haven't been mentioned yet

Too few: Steve Finnan. (Champions League winning right back, and most consistent right back in the Prem yet couldn't get in to Kerr's Ireland)

Too many: Alan Lee (What a poor player, he's hot no place at international football - 9 caps and now he doesn't want to play for us, should be the other way around)

**Fergie's Son** · 05/04/2009, 11:17 PM

Originally Posted by irishultra

Paul Osam should have been capped

so much for homogenous ireland....

Oh please. Don't be a WUM. He never, ever good enough for Ireland. What nonsense.

**Mcgeady46** · 05/04/2009, 11:32 PM

not enough caps - Graham Kavanagh

**SilkCut** · 06/04/2009, 5:58 AM

Jim Beglin and Tony Galvin especially Beglin would surely have won more caps except for injury.

**Superhoops** · 06/04/2009, 6:51 AM

Roy Keane won 67 caps, his first against Chile in May 1991 and his last in against France in September 2005.

By my reckoning during that period Ireland played 145 international matches which meant that Keane only played in 46% of those games. For the best player of his generation that is quite low.

I can't help thinking that the 'Man.U factor' (Ferguson's reluctance to release players for international games) cost him at least 25 more caps and his own 'gremlins' cost him several more caps. He really should have gone on to reach the 100.

**endabob1** · 06/04/2009, 7:51 AM

Finnan, Kenna & Sheridan had the misfortune of being in their prime when Ireland were over-run with quality players in their positions & Sheridan never quite fitted the Charlton mould of energetic box to box midfielder.
Dave O'Leary is another, Charltons preference for the Moran, McCarthy partnership prevented Dave from getting more caps, 68 caps in 17 years!!!
Dean Kiely & Alan Kelly would have a lot more caps but for Given, Kiely in particular in his prime with Charlton was an excellent shot stopper, only 10 caps.

The Keane stats are interesting, the best player of a generation with substantially less caps than the likes of Cass or Kilbane is something he should reflect on, that said I'm sure his collection of medals makes up for it.

Plenty of players curtailed by injury, Steven Reid & Jim Beglin even an argument that Whelan should have won more caps but for persistent niggling injuries.

**seanfhear** · 06/04/2009, 8:58 AM

Sean StLedger could do with getting 1 cap in a friendly for Trap to have a look at him in the flesh

**gustavo** · 06/04/2009, 9:34 AM

Originally Posted by endabob1

Finnan, Kenna & Sheridan had the misfortune of being in their prime when Ireland were over-run with quality players in their positions & Sheridan never quite fitted the Charlton mould of energetic box to box midfielder.
Dave O'Leary is another, Charltons preference for the Moran, McCarthy partnership prevented Dave from getting more caps, 68 caps in 17 years!!!
Dean Kiely & Alan Kelly would have a lot more caps but for Given, Kiely in particular in his prime with Charlton was an excellent shot stopper, only 10 caps.

Can you really say they got too few caps though if there were better players ahead of them?

I mean that's the way teams are picked ,Just an argument really . I know these are all good players you're talking about

**Superhoops** · 06/04/2009, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by endabob1

... The Keane stats are interesting, the best player of a generation with substantially less caps than the likes of Cass or Kilbane is something he should reflect on, that said I'm sure his collection of medals makes up for it......

Which could be construed as meaning that playing for Ireland was secondary to winning medals??

Kevin Kilbane now has 94 caps. By my reckoning since he got his first in 1997, Ireland has played 114 games, giving him an appearance rate of 82% of all games played. That is some record for an outfield player. If ever someone deserved to get to 100 it is KK.

**Royal rover** · 06/04/2009, 5:24 PM

mark kennedy is one player i always thought should of got more caps - sheridan was pure class, i remember watching him against spain in dublin - we brought him on when we were 3.0 down - i couldn't understand why Jack didn't play him from the off - i think Brady could of got a few more as well - i would of loved to have seen him in euro 88 - keith o'neil would of been a great player apart from injury -
likewise mark kelly in the 80's - kevin o'callaghan was also a good player i remember him at millwall with sheringham and Cascarino

worst players in recent times who got a few caps
Gary Doherty
Jonathan douglas

**Superhoops** · 06/04/2009, 6:45 PM

Just looked up Shay Given's record.

93 caps since making debut against Russia in March 1996. Since then, by my reckoning Ireland has played 130 games, giving him a 71.5% appearance rate. Before looking up I thought it was higher.

Puts Kilbane's effort in perspective though.

**John83** · 06/04/2009, 6:58 PM

Originally Posted by Superhoops

Just looked up Shay Given's record.

93 caps since making debut against Russia in March 1996. Since then, by my reckoning Ireland has played 130 games, giving him a 71.5% appearance rate. Before looking up I thought it was higher.

Puts Kilbane's effort in perspective though.

Given's had a few more injury problems than Kilbane though. He missed a long spell with a broken hand around 2000 or so, didn't he?

**SkStu** · 06/04/2009, 7:00 PM

i think he has had a few niggly injuries in his time alright - each time he regained fitness he had troubles dislodging Harper from the position at Newcastle - always regained his place in the end obviously.

**Superhoops** · 06/04/2009, 7:18 PM

Originally Posted by John83

Given's had a few more injury problems than Kilbane though. He missed a long spell with a broken hand around 2000 or so, didn't he?

He didn't play between May 1999 and April 2000 missing 8 games played between June 1999 and February 2000.

**tetsujin1979** · 06/04/2009, 9:47 PM

Alan Kelly was the first choice keeper at the start of the 2002 qualifiers as well

**noddy102** · 07/04/2009, 7:46 AM

David Kelly was unlucky to have been in his prime around the same time as Quinn, Cascarino and Aldrdige.

Keith O'Neill and Richard Sadiler would have won more caps, only for injuries.