Kenny assembled a training camp squad together comprised of English Football League and League of Ireland players in Bristol this week for four days of invaluable training ahead of those two UEFA EURO 2024 qualifiers in June.
It was also an opportunity to bring in a number of players who are yet to feature in a senior international fixture such as Peterborough United midfielder Jack Taylor, who came in straight from the Posh's dramatic defeat against Sheffield Wednesday in the League One play-offs.
Millwall defender Danny McNamara, Hull City defender Sean McLoughlin, Shamrock Rovers winger Neil Farrugia, Derry City goalkeeper Brian Maher and Oxford United goalkeeper Ed McGinty also reported for the training camp.
"Particularly credit to Jack Taylor, being part of that play-off, winning 4-0 after the first leg and getting man of the match to being the team that lose in the second leg and dealing with that on Thursday night and then coming in here on Monday morning in Bristol," said Kenny.
"Jack has had a good season and I think he has a great future ahead of him. I think all of the players, Neil, Danny, Sean McLoughlin for the first time and the goalkeepers Brian Maher, Ed McGinty and Max O'Leary performed really well.
"Max had a terrific season last year with Bristol City and gives us a dilemma because we've got the three goalkeepers in the Premier League also, despite not being in their team at the moment, but they've got a lot of talent."
Chiedozie Ogbene reported for the training camp but worked with the Irish medical staff all week as he continues to rehabilitate from a hamstring injury and faces a race to be fit for the Greece and Gibraltar fixtures.
Alan Browne didn't report for the camp as he recovers from a medial injury with the Preston North End midfielder in contention for next week's squad announcement as Kenny also confirmed striker Tom Cannon missed the camp through illness.
"In terms of the injury updates, obviously Chiedozie Ogbene had a hamstring tear with Rotherham and hasn't been able to participate this week so we'll have to see how that is," continued Kenny.
"Alan Browne as well coming back from a medial injury, so we're also monitoring him and he couldn't come in this week. Tom Cannon also hasn't been here this week with tonsillitis.
"But a lot of players have and it has been an important week. Nothing beats actually playing football and actually training rather than setting individual programmes and I feel the players have really benefitted from that.
"It was a great week of work from the players. The focus is completely on these next two matches and we've got nine days in Turkey to look forward to before we head to Athens and return home to face Gibraltar."
John Egan also missed the training camp due to family reasons with the full training camp squad below.
Squad: Max O'Leary (Bristol City), Ed McGinty (Oxford United), Brian Maher (Derry City); Danny McNamara (Millwall), Callum O'Dowda (Cardiff City), James McClean (Wigan Athletic), Dara O'Shea (West Bromwich Albion), Sean McLoughlin (Hull City); Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion), Josh Cullen (Burnley), Will Smallbone (Southampton), Mark Sykes (Bristol City), Neil Farrugia (Shamrock Rovers), Jason Knight (Derby County), Jack Taylor (Peterborough United); Chiedozie Ogbene (Rotherham United), Troy Parrott (Tottenham Hotspur), Michael Obafemi (Burnley), Adam Idah (Norwich City), Will Keane (Wigan Athletic).



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Introduction:
Ireland manager Stephen Kenny has praised midfielder Jack Taylor following the four-day training camp in Bristol this week as preparations for the Greece and Gibraltar matches begin.




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