France V Republic of Ireland - Monday 28th May 2018 - Friendly

**Closed Account** · 01/05/2018, 5:00 PM

http://www.offtheball.com/Soccer/Mar...e-was-21-or-22

But O’Neill hinted at taking an experimental approach as he looks to give some of his more senior players a rest at the close of the season.
“I’ll have players who are going to be involved in play-off games for a start,” O’Neill added.
“Secondly, when we were organising the international games at the end of the season, some of the Premier League players might have been looking for a little family holiday before we actually met up.
“And of course the Scott Brown testimonial game came a wee bit after some of the guys had organised things. And in fairness, they’ve talked about maybe changing plans. But if they have made this family holiday and it’s the only chance they get then I would allow one or two that time.
“It gives another opportunity for some of the other younger players coming in to try and make their mark. That’s something I’m considering but it will become a little bit clearer by next week when I announce the squad.”
Written by James Hopper

**Stuttgart88** · 02/05/2018, 9:23 AM

O'Neill's previous form with experimental sides doesn't fill me with any confidence. I think the difference this time might be that he seems committed to refreshing the squad.

**DeLorean** · 02/05/2018, 10:11 AM

Some more here, including injury updates on James McCarthy & Robbie Brady, potential retirements/recruitment and the Liam Kelly situation - https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/...gn-470167.html

**Olé Olé** · 02/05/2018, 11:01 AM

He really does throw Liam Kelly under the bus again. No harm if that's what he was told by Reading.

Interesting to see Shaun Williams is being mentioned at the age of 31.

Surely Brandon O'Neill has a bit to do to warrant a call-io given that he's in the same league that Roy O'Donovan and Andy Keogh have been well up the goal charts with no clamour for inclusion.

I'm looking forward to see if Callum Robinson can come in and contribute. He's got a few ahead of him but he's been playing regularly ahead of Daryl Horgan at club level.

**tetsujin1979** · 02/05/2018, 12:10 PM

FWIW he was at the Shamrock Rovers game on Monday night too.

**Stuttgart88** · 02/05/2018, 12:30 PM

Yeah, saw that alright. I believe Aaron Bolger was outstanding.

**tetsujin1979** · 02/05/2018, 1:08 PM

I think he used to play football with a lad I work with. He mentioned a young guy on his team that had been signed by Rovers and went straight into the first team.

**Closed Account** · 10/05/2018, 1:00 PM

Provisional squad selected for Republic of Ireland MNT games

Republic of Ireland Men's National Team - Provisional Squad
Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph (Middlesbrough), Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday), Colin Doyle (Bradford City), Kieran O'Hara (Manchester United), Ian Lawlor (Doncaster Rovers), Conor O'Malley (Peterborough United)
Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Cyrus Christie (Fulham), Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Alex Pearce, Richard Keogh (Derby County), John Egan (Brentford), Shane Duffy (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ciaran Clark (Newcastle United), Declan Rice (West Ham United), Kevin Long (Burnley), John O'Shea (Sunderland), Darragh Lenihan, Derrick Williams (Blackburn Rovers), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United), Greg Cunningham (Preston North End)
Midfielders: Alan Judge (Brentford), Conor Hourihane, Glenn Whelan (Aston Villa), Jeff Hendrick (Burnley), Harry Arter (Bournemouth), Eunan O'Kane (Leeds United), David Meyler (Hull City), Shaun Williams (Millwall), Alan Browne, Daryl Horgan (Preston North End), Callum O'Dowda (Bristol City), James McClean (West Bromwich Albion),
Forwards: Jonathan Walters (Burnley), Shane Long (Southampton), Scott Hogan (Aston Villa), Aiden O'Brien (Millwall), Sean Maguire, Callum Robinson (Preston North End), Graham Burke (Shamrock Rovers)

http://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/provi...land-mnt-games

Provisional squad selected for Republic of Ireland MNT games

Martin O'Neill's squad to take on Celtic, France and United States

10th May 2018

Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill has announced a provisional squad for the friendly games against Celtic (May 20), France (May 28) and United States (June 2).
Speaking at the SPAR Primary 5s Leinster Finals in Navan, O'Neill revealed that veteran defender John O'Shea would be leading Ireland out for the final time at the Three International Friendly against United States on Saturday, June 2 in Aviva Stadium.
The three friendly games act as the final preparation ahead of the UEFA Nations League opener away to Wales on September 6. O'Neill has made space in his squad for three players (Matt Doherty, Declan Rice & Scott Hogan) who made their debuts in the recent friendly against Turkey.
Graham Burke is the latest player from the SSE Airtricity League to be called up to the squad, following on from the previous call ups for the Dundalk trio of Andy Boyle, Daryl Horgan and Gary Rogers.
Also receiving their first senior call-ups are Peterborough United goalkeeper Conor O'Malley, Millwall midfielder Shaun Williams, and Preston North End forward Callum Robinson.
A number of players miss out due to injury, including Robbie Brady (knee), James McCarthy (broken leg), Jonny Hayes (ankle) and Aiden McGeady (ankle). Burnley forward Jonathan Walters returns after a long injury lay-off.
Some players will drop out of the squad after the Celtic game on Sunday, May 20 in Celtic Park, while others will only report into camp ahead of the trip to Paris to take on France on Monday, May 28 in Stade de France and the home game against the United States on June 2.

**Closed Account** · 10/05/2018, 1:02 PM

New callups
Conor O'Malley (GK)
Shaun Williams
Callum Robinson
Graham Burke

**nigel-harps1954** · 10/05/2018, 1:13 PM

Magic plane at work again? 14 appearances for Connor O'Malley in League One enough to warrant a call-up.

**Philly** · 10/05/2018, 1:51 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Magic plane at work again? 14 appearances for Connor O'Malley in League One enough to warrant a call-up.

In fairness, we are short of goalkeepers who are at that age and might develop into good Championship / International level options. Te top goalkeepers in LOI - McNulty and Rogers - are bot mid-30s and not even a medium term prospect for us.

Burke and Robinson seemed to have a good partnership at Villa at underage level, will be interesting to see how they do: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPlvW_GKUjM

**Stuttgart88** · 10/05/2018, 2:31 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Magic plane at work again? 14 appearances for Connor O'Malley in League One enough to warrant a call-up.

Yawn. He's been in UK a while and has been in excellent form. He is being retained by Peterborough while many others including Forrester are being released. I think this is quite a good selection on O'Neill's part.

**bwagner** · 10/05/2018, 2:37 PM

Five Preston North End players have been named in the Republic of Ireland's latest provisional squad.

Alan Browne, Callum Robinson, Daryl Horgan, Greg Cunningham and Sean Maguire have all been called up to Martin O'Neill's squad.

Callum Robinson has received his first call up to the national side after declaring for Ireland earlier this season.

Greg Cunningham is also named in the squad once again and will be hoping to make the final squad after missing out on recent occasions through injury.

After an impressive season which ended with three awards, Alan Browne is once again named in the provisional after making his first senior start during the last international break.

Sean Maguire and Daryl Horgan make up the five Lilywhites in Martin O'Neill's squad, and both will be looking to add to their caps for their national side.

Robinson has been named in the provisional squad for the friendly against Celtic at Celtic Park on Sunday 20th May 2018. While Cunningham, Browne, Maguire and Horgan have been named in the squad for that game as well as the friendlies against France and USA on 28th May and 2nd June respectively.

**topia** · 10/05/2018, 8:00 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Yawn. He's been in UK a while and has been in excellent form. He is being retained by Peterborough while many others including Forrester are being released. I think this is quite a good selection on O'Neill's part.

10 months.

**Fixer82** · 11/05/2018, 12:22 AM

What’s the story with Rob Elliot?

**Olé Olé** · 11/05/2018, 7:50 AM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Magic plane at work again? 14 appearances for Connor O'Malley in League One enough to warrant a call-up.

What did Graham Burke fly in on?

And wasn't O'Malley second choice for Pat's in 2016 before becoming first choice in 2017 so I'm not sure what juncture he could have been called in at in the past 14 months that would have been justifiable both in terms of openings in the squad (look at the amount of keepers in the squad) and accumulated appearances. Albeit he isn't first choice for Peterborough but he's finished the season well.

Plenty other sticks to beat O'Neill with. I think this is just a twig.

**DeLorean** · 11/05/2018, 9:08 AM

Originally Posted by Fixer82

What’s the story with Rob Elliot?

This is from the end of March - https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/spor...arlow-14467940

Darlow last featured for the Magpies in the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on February 2, filling in for Elliot who has suffered with injury this season and hasn’t started a game since the turn of the year.

The Republic of Ireland international missed out on the trip to Spain, with Benitez feeling it would more beneficial to him, alongside Jesus Gamez, to stay on Tyneside to work on his recovery.

“I was talking with the doctor,” Benitez responded when asked about Elliot’s injury. “Still he is progressing and that is why we did not take him to Spain.

“He and Gamez stayed at Newcastle to work with the physios and the fitness coach.

“We have to wait a little bit for them, but maybe by the start of next month they will be back.”

**Fixer82** · 11/05/2018, 5:10 PM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

This is from the end of March - https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/spor...arlow-14467940

Nice one

**samhaydenjr** · 12/05/2018, 1:13 AM

Originally Posted by samhaydenjr

Here we go again... if the manager doesn't pick a LOI player who's doing well it's an insult to the league, followed by "if he was playing for a rubbish League Two team he'd be in the starting line-up". Look, it's great that the LOI has come on a lot since the days when I used to watch hoofball under Noel O'Mahony at the Cross. It's great that it has become a serious pathway to greater things for more and more players. And it's great that Graham Burke is playing so well in the league. But that is not enough to justify a call-up. People might comment sarcastically about players suddenly becoming magically better on the plane to England but the reality is that if an Irish player wants to be considered for the Irish team, he has to be able to perform at the same level as the best Irish players and the best Irish players are playing in the Premier League and The Championship.

Think about it - there's going to be about 15-18 Irish senior internationals at Premier League clubs next season, including players with only a handful of caps or fewer like Declan Rice, Josh Cullen, Matt Doherty and, if Villa go up, Conor hourihane and Scott Hogan; there's also a number of young Irish players who are close to breaking into Premier League teams; there's another handful of experienced internationals who will be playing in The Championship next year; and there's a number of Championship players who should be the priority when handing out friendly caps as preparation for the Nations League... the likes of Alan Browne, Darragh Lenihan, Derrick Williams, Callum O'Dowda, Sean Maguire, Daryl Horgan, Greg Cunningham, Callum Robinson, Aiden O'Brien, maybe even Ryan Manning.

Again, it's no disrespect to the LOI to say that The Championship is a higher standard of football and while players like Sean Maguire and Daryl Maguire have managed to make the step up, other LOI stars like Richie Towell and Chris Forrester have had to settle for League One football (for now, at least). So, best of luck to Graham Burke, I hope his career trajectory continues upwards and that a big English club finds use for his talents soon and that we can make a direct comparison with others. But until that happens, we have numerous candidates for the senior squad with playing records that deserve international recognition more

Originally Posted by joe_denilson

New callups
Conor O'Malley (GK)
Shaun Williams
Callum Robinson
Graham Burke

I stand corrected

**Charlie Darwin** · 12/05/2018, 3:12 AM

To be fair, we've loads of midfielders and centre halves playing at a good level in England. We are a bit lacking up front (and Maguire probably would have been called up had the calendar fallen a little different) and in a couple of other positions, which is where LOI players can make a case.