No Room for Keane Against Finland

By Ade O'Connor
August 13 2002

The Ireland squad to face Finland in a pre-Euro 2004 qualifying match in Helsinki, has been named, but there is no space for the misfit Roy Keane. In his recent book, Keane had criticised McCarthy, after walking out of the World Cup squad.

The Irish manager, Mick McCarthy and the midfield talisman had a bust up over the training facilities on the training camp island of Saipan. It came as no real surprise when the name of Keane did not figure in the Ireland supremos plans for the up and coming campaign.

Roy Keane has more than his international future to worry about, as potential court proceedings could be underway. This is just another dent to the players hopes after the launch of his controversial book.

In the absence of Roy Keane, and the retired Alan Kelly, Steve Staunton and Niall Quinn, McCarthy has called up 6 players who did not figure in the final 22 of the World Cup squad. The boss must now look to the future, of players who will be ready to serve Ireland in years to come.

"With Niall Quinn, Alan Kelly and Steve Staunton all having retired from international football after the World Cup finals, this is an opportunity for some of the younger players to show that they are ready to stake their claims for international recognition," said McCarthy.

The manager sees young Hibernian goalkeeper Nick Colgan as the ideal replacement for Alan Kelly. The Tottenham defensive pair of Steven Carr and Gary Docherty have been named amongst the defensive players, as both men missed out on the World Cup due to long term injuries.

Meanwhile, central midfielder Colin Healy has been rewarded for his impressive pre-season with Celtic, by being handed a spot in the squad. Healy was called into the squad in Keanes absence during the World Cup, however FIFA ruled he could not play.

The ever versatile Rory Delap and Leeds player Stephen McPhail also find themselves in the squad. Mark Kennedy again misses out through injury, and the unfortunate striker David Connolly also vacates a place to sit on the treatment table.

Apart from team selection, McCarthy must decide on a new captain after the retirement of Steve Staunton, there is no outstanding entry. Gary Breen, now of West Ham after a summer being linked with high flyers of Barcelona and Parma could land the job, or Kenny Cunningham is another potential captain.

In the Under 21 ranks, Manchester United defensive up and coming star, John O`Shea has been giving the captaincy job.

The squad is listed in full below:

GOALKEEPERS: S Given (Newcastle Utd), D Kiely (Charlton), N Colgan (Hibernian);

DEFENDERS: S Carr (Tottenham), S Finnan (Fulham), K Cunningham (Birmingham), G Kelly (Leeds Utd), A O'Brien (Newcastle), G Breen (West Ham), R Dunne (Manchester City), I Harte (Leeds Utd);

MIDFIELDERS: J McAteer (Sunderland), M Holland (Ipswich), K Kilbane (Sunderland), S Reid (Millwall), C Healy (Celtic), M Kinsella (Charlton), L Carsley (Everton), R Delap (Southampton);

FORWARDS: Robbie Keane (Leeds Utd), C Morrison (Birmingham), D Duff (Blackburn), S McPhail (Leeds Utd), R Sadlier (Millwall), G Doherty (Tottenham).