Irish Footballers

As Sunderland begin preparations for the new season and a new manager, two Irish senior internationals and one youth international have been shown the door at the Stadium of Light – amongst seven players released by the Black Cats.

Goalkeeper Nick Colgan and striker David Connolly will both now have to look for new clubs in the summer months. Connolly has suffered with injuries and last featured for Sunderland in January 2008 while Colgan leaves the club having never played a senior game for them. He was signed this year as cover during a goalkeeping crisis.

Young Dubliner Niall McArdle has also been released without ever getting a first team chance. McArdle has played for Ireland at a number of under-age levels including under-17s.

With Sunderland currently in the hunt for a new manager, five Irishmen remain on their books. Although out on loan for much of this year, Roy O’Donovan, Anthony Stokes and Paul McShane join Daryl Murphy and Andy Reid on what Sunderland refer to as their “retained” list.

John O’Shea had to settle for a Champions League runner’s up medal as Manchester United fell at the last hurdle in their bid to retain the UEFA Champions League. United lost 2-0 to Barcelona at the Olympic Stadium in Rome last night.

However, O’Shea can take some solace from the fact that he cemented himself as a first choice defender for United this season having had to be content with a supporting role in previous years.

It’s unclear yet when O’Shea will join up with the Irish camp but most likely after Friday’s almost pointless friendly with Nigeria as preparations begin for the World Cup qualifier with Bulgaria in Sofia.

Giovanni Trapattoni finally admitted defeat yesterday over hopes that Kevin Doyle would have recovered from an Achilles tendon injury in time face Bulgaria in Sofia on 6th June. Already expected to miss Friday’s friendly with Nigeria, there had been an outside chance that the Reading striker would recover in time to play in the World Cup qualifier but those hopes have now passed.

With Noel Hunt already ruled out by injury, Ireland’s striking options are somewhat limited. Limited further for Friday’s game with the news that Hull City striker Caleb Folan will miss the game at Craven Cottage due a knee injury.

Also suffering from a knock is Shay Given although the Irish boss has already suggested that he will field an experimental side on Friday night. Coventry goalkeeper Keiren Westwood looks set to start while Liam Lawrence, Eddie Nolan, Sean St Ledger, Kevin Foley and Leon Best are all also in line for debuts.

Former Republic of Ireland international Owen Coyle led his Burnley side into England’s top flight on Monday after a 1-0 win over Sheffield United at Wembley Stadium.

Dubliner Chris McCann was part of the Burnley team in the Championship play-off final but was forced off early after picking up an injury. Goalkeeper Paddy Kenny and Stephen Quinn played for Sheffield United but now face another year away from the top table.

Coyle’s managerial performance now means that two of the three sides promoted to the Premier League are managed by former Irish internationals and he has already emerged as one of the favourites for the vacant Glasgow Celtic manager’s job.

Finn Harps have confirmed that they will be playing the Roy Keane manager Ipswich Town in the summer. The Country Donegal side have lined up a lucrative friendly with the Tractor Boys at Finn Park.

The game has been confirmed for Ballybofey at 8pm on Tuesday, 7th July with ticket details to follow shortly.

Speaking at the announcement, Harps chairman Derek Wilkinson said, “I am absolutely thrilled we have secured this fixture. Ipswich are a high profile team and in Roy Keane they have one of the most high-profile young managers in the game across the water.  We are delighted that Roy Keane has agreed to bring his team to Donegal and I extend thanks to Roy and everyone at Ipswich Town for making this happen.”

Republic of Ireland international Damien Duff grabbed some unwanted headlines on Sunday as the English and Scottish League seasons finished up. The Dubliner scored the only goal of the game – an own goal – as Newcastle fell to defeat at the hands of Aston Villa. Going into the game, Newcastle knew at the very least they had to avoid defeat to have any chance of staying in England’s Premier League. It is the second time in his career that Duff has suffered relegation and a predicted clear out at Saint James’ Park in the summer could well include the winger.

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Alan Kelly senior – one of Irish football’s great – passed away yesterday aged 72. He did almost it all with the Republic of Ireland – collecting 47 caps, captaining his country and also briefly managing the national side.

Starting at Bray Wanderers before moving onto Drumcondra and Preston North End, Alan Kelly senior’s international career lasted 17 years. He would go on to serve as caretaker manager of Ireland in 1980 – a role he also held at Preston before a full-time run at the club in the mid 80′s.

Later in life he moved to the United States where he also had a role as goalkeeping coach at Major League Soccer side DC United – having previously helped develop goalkeeping talents in his own schools in the Washington DC area.

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Former Republic of Ireland international captain Roy Keane will bring his new side Ipswich Town to familiar territory in July as they will face cash strapped League of Ireland club Cork City at Turner’s Cross.

The Rebels have some ongoing financial worries and will hope that the visit of Keane’s Ipswich – much like Keane’s Sunderland a couple of years ago – will bring in some much needed cash.

Speaking on the announcement Cork City manager Paul Doolin said:  “Roy Keane is obviously a very popular figure in Cork and will be a very welcome visitor to Turner’s Cross. It’s always good to have friendly matches against English clubs, and it is also good for Cork City as a club. I would hope there would be a very good turnout for the game, as there was for the game against Sunderland a couple of years ago.”

There is no date yet confirmed for the match

Former Leeds United defender Ian Harte has signed a two year deal with English League One side Carlisle United.

The County Louth born defender returned to England in 2007 from Spanish club Levante – where he had spent three years. A brief spell at Sunderland was followed by another short run at Blackpool before he ended the season just completed at Carlisle having turned down a deal with St Mirren – even after the move had been announced by the Scottish club.

Carlisle narrowly avoided dropping down to the third tier of English football in the season just gone and the signing of Harte shows some ambition from a club that were once Roddy Collins’ “Rod Squad”.

Harte has not played internationall since 2005 and it seems highly unlikely that he will return to the international fold at this stage in his career.

Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni today named his squad for the upcoming end of season double header which features a friendly with Nigeria in London and a World Cup qualifier in Sofia against Bulgaria.

There are some surprises in the squad with Liam Miller, Sean St Ledger and Eddie Nolan all included alongside the uncapped Leon Best.  Best though is not the only uncapped player in the squad. Goalkeeper Keiren Westwood, the Preston pair of St Ledger and Nolan, defender Kevin Foley and Liam Lawrence are also uncapped.

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