Irish squad prepare for tantalising Thomond clash

IRISH soccer manager Giovanni Trapattoni put his players through their paces at St. Michael’s FC in Tipperary Town this morning as the countdown to Wednesday’s friendly against Australia at Thomond Park begins in earnest.
Trapattoni had just 14 players at his disposal for yesterday’s first squad session which was watched by 1,500 enthusiastic fans, but the size of the squad was bolstered by the overnight arrival of several players who had been in club action cross-channel.
Among those who were set to join up with the squad for today’s training session at Cooke Park were Manchester United star John O’Shea, the Manchester City duo of Shay Given and Richard Dunne as well as Glasgow Celtic’s Aiden McGeady and Spurs striker Robbie Keane.
Damien Duff, Kevin Doyle and Stephen Hunt were among some of the bigger names who trained with an unusually lean Irish squad in Tipperary Town yesterday. Doyle, who was introduced as a substitute, but missed a penalty for Wolves in a friendly against Real Valladolid on Saturday, has only recently recovered from a hernia operation.
Wolves manager Mick McCarthy has said that he hopes the striker gets 45 minutes for Ireland on Wednesday and Irish boss Trapattoni is set to start Doyle in attack.
The friendly clash with Australia has a 7.30pm kick-off time and will be televised live on Sky Sports.
An attendance of 20,000 is expected for the fixture.
Tickets are still available for the friendly from Gleeson Sport Scene, Upper William Street in Limerick city, from Thomond Park and from Ticketmaster.
Wednesday night’s game in Limerick is the first time the Republic of Ireland have played a full international outside of Dublin since 1985.
A number of special events have been organized locally to co-incide with the big game.
Geraldines AFC will celebrate the opening of their new dressing room facilities tomorrow at 4pm.
On Wednesday an FAI Football Fun for All Day will be hosted at Shelbourne Park between 4pm and 7pm.
The fact that the Irish squad is based in Tipperary this week, and playing a game at nearby Thomond Park, makes it a very special occasion for squad member Shane Long.
Tipperary man Long admits he would love to become a regular starter in Trappatoni’s Irish side.
“The match against Australia is still an opportunity to make an impact, a chance for the so-called substitute players to shine,’’ Shane Long said.
“And with the possibility of qualifying for the World Cup finals there, every player in the squad wants to take that chance.”
The Irish squad will complete their preparations for the clash with the Socceroos by having a light work-out at Thomond Park at tea-time tomorrow.
The Republic of Ireland’s opponents Australia held a squad session in Gannon Park, Malahide today. They will get their chance to have a run out at Thomond Park tomorrow afternoon.
Meanwhile the FAI is to hold a workshop in Limerick on Wednesday entitled ‘Developing Football Developing Communities’. The FAI is using the senior international friendly against Australia to hold the event in the Kilmurry Lodge, Limerick.
The half-day national workshop will bring together county and city councils, RAPID area representatives, Local Sports Partnerships and Garda community liaison representatives to discuss the many community based social programmes being implemented in partnership with the FAI.

COLM KINSELLA