The IFA have lost their case with the Court Of Arbitration For Sport in which they were trying to prevent Irish players born in the North Of Ireland from representing Giovanni Trapattoni’s Ireland at international level. Despite FIFA making a number of rulings in favour of players like Derry’s Darron Gibson and Antrim’s Marc Wilson, the IFA took their case to CAS in a last ditch attempt to block Irish citizens from representing their country.
The Football Association of Ireland today (July 30) confirmed that it has won the case taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) by the IFA in relation to Daniel Kearns.
The landmark ruling vindicates the FAI and FIFA position that players born within the island of Ireland are eligible to play for FAI international teams and provides complete and final clarity on the matter.
The Football Association of Ireland delegation which attended the hearing on July 19 in Switzerland was composed of John Delaney, CEO, Michael Cody, Honorary Secretary and Sarah O’Shea, Legal Director. The FAI was represented by Paul Gardiner SC and David Casserly BL. Daniel Kearns was represented by Gary Rice of Beauchamps.
The FAI thanks the many bodies which assisted it in this case including the Irish Government, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport, the Olympic Council of Ireland, the Irish Sports Council, FIFA, UEFA, numerous elected representatives throughout the island of Ireland and many others.
The ruling comes into force with immediate effect and under the terms of the ruling, the IFA will pay all related costs. The FAI would like to take the opportunity to highlight that it has in recent years had good relations with the IFA. Those were maintained throughout this case and will continue into the future.
Welcoming the ruling, FAI Chief Executive John Delaney said;
“Today’s landmark decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport confirms the FIFA and FAI position on player eligibility. The ruling upholds the right of individual choice on this matter for players born north of the border. I would like to thank the many people from all parts of the island who were strongly supportive during this process, and in particular, recognise the determination of Daniel Kearns and his family to uphold his right as an Irish citizen to play for his country.”
Sean McCaffrey has unveiled his Under-19 squad for the double-header friendly against Ukraine in Dublin on Monday, August 9 and Wednesday, August 11.
Manchester United winger Robbie Brady, part of last season's Under-19 squad which brought their qualification bid to the final game of elite stage, is chosen along with his Old Trafford clubmate Sean McGinty, who captained the Irish Under-17s last term.
Republic of Ireland Under-19 Squad
Sean McDermott - Arsenal
Aaron McCarey - Wolverhampton Wanderers
Declan Walker - Wrexham
John Egan - Sunderland
Joe Shaughnessy - Aberdeen
Anthony O'Connor - Blackburn Rovers
Sean McGinty - Manchester United
Derrick Williams - Aston Villa
Carl McHugh - Reading
Daryl Horgan - Salthill Devon
Shane Byrne - Leicester City
Stephen McDonnell - Dundalk
Jeff Hendrick - Derby County
Liam Irwin - Bolton Wanderers
Craig Walsh - Shamrock Rovers
Stephen Folan - Newcastle United
Patrick McEleney - Derry City
Robbie Brady - Manchester United
Michael Rafter - Colchester United
Ryan Connolly - Derby County
Ireland Under-17 manager Sean McCaffrey has announced a squad of 18 players to participate in the upcoming eight-nation friendly tournament in Hungary from August 4-7.
McCaffrey and his panel will fly to Budapest on Monday to prepare for the opening fixture two days later, August 4, against Croatia in Telki (17.00 hrs).
Ireland Under-17 Squad
Joe Coll - Manchester United
Ian Lawlor - Manchester City
Sean Kavanagh - Belvedere
Luke Gallagher - Cherry Orchard
Pierce Sweeney - Belvedere
Joe O'Brien - Salthill Devon
Steven Smith - Arsenal
Tommy Hoban - Watford
Conor Pepper - Portmarnock
Kenneth McEvoy - Tottenham Hotspur
Gareth Brady - Belvedere
Kealan Dillon - Derby County
Darragh Lenihan - Belvedere
Jack Grealish - Aston Villa
Carel TioFack - Ipswich Town
James Murphy - Reading
Philip Roberts - Arsenal
Sam Byrne - St Joseph's Boys
Giovanni Trapattoni has named a 28 man squad to take on Argentina in the first international football match in the Aviva Stadium on August 11.
Ireland v Argentina 11th August 2010
Shay Given
Keiren Westwood
Joe Murphy
John O’Shea
Richard Dunne
Sean St Ledger
Greg Cunningham
Kevin Foley
Marc Wilson
Stephen Kelly
Paul McShane
Darren O’Dea
Kevin Kilbane
Keith Andrews
Glenn Whelan
Darron Gibson
Paul Green
Liam Lawrence
Aiden McGeady
Andy Keogh
Damien Duff
Keith Fahey
Keith Treacy
Cillian Sheridan
Robbie Keane
Kevin Doyle
Caleb Folan
Shane Long
Ireland record goalscorer Robbie Keane has been told that he has every chance of playing a major role at Tottenham this season.
Keane was loaned out to Celtic during the Christmas transfer window after Harry Redknapp decided that he could get through the second half of the season without the Irish striker.
Redknapp has stated this summer that he would only consider letting Keane go out on loan again if the player was unhappy with his level of involvement at White Hart Lane.
Keane faces stiff competition for a place up front but it appears he has played his way back to the top of the pecking order after some impressive performances in pre-season.
The 30-year-old followed up his goal against New York Red Bulls by finding the target again in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Sporting Lisbon, and could now start Tottenham's Premier League opener at home to Manchester City on 14th August.
"His situation is that he is still a very, very good player," said Redknapp.
"He looked sharp and bright and he is still very much in the plans.
"He wants to start every game and if he keeps playing as he did today, he can do.
"It was a fantastic finish and he is a quality player, one of our better players.
"There is every chance he could start."
Ireland striker Daryl Murphy made a scoring debut for Celtic as a Parkhead XI beat Lincoln City 4-1 to lift the John Reames Memorial Trophy at Sincil Bank Stadium.
The home side took the lead in the 16th minute through summer signing Albert Jarrett, who blasted home following good work from Mustapha Carayol.
However, Murphy, signed recently from Sunderland, drove in the equaliser from the edge of the box in the 38th minute before Ben Hutchinson made the most of some hesitant Imps' defending to give the visitors the half-time lead. Two goals in as many minutes midway through the second half from Hutchinson and Simon Ferry completed the scoring.
Ireland u21 international Shane Duffy has made an astonishing return to training with Everton this week, less than two months after his life-saving operation in Dublin's Mater Hospital.
The courageous 18 year-old Derry man has made a miraculous comeback from an injury that almost cost him his life after suffering a laceration to his liver during a training game with the Irish Amateur side on this day two months ago when representing the Ireland senior international side in Malahide.
And having amazed medical staff at the Mater Hospital and, indeed, at Goodison Park, the Glendale Park lad said he was 'happy' with the rapid progress of his recovery.
While his teammates have jetted off on a pre-season tour to Australia, the talented 6' 4'' central defender returned to light training this week under the close supervision of the Everton medical staff in Liverpool and he is now looking forward to a quick-fire return to competitive action.
In fact, Duffy is expected to make a full recovery from his horrific injury and will be allowed to resume full-time training over the next four to six weeks.
Already this week he has been back running, having completed a nine mile jog on Monday before taking part in light cardio sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday as he concentrates on regaining fitness before working on the psychological and physical aspects of his rehabilitation.
While Duffy had enjoyed a relaxing time at home with his family over the last two months, taking in plenty of football with the World Cup on television and making an appearance at the Brandywell Stadium for the Derry City FAI Cup defeat against Shamrock Rovers, he admitted he was 'getting bored' and was growing impatient for a return to action.
"I'm just happy to be back training again," said Shane yesterday. "It was nice to get a rest and watch the World Cup Finals in South Africa on television and take in some local football while I was back in Derry. It was nice for a while, but I was really getting really bored to be honest.
"But time seems to have flown since I returned to Liverpool. I've been back since Wednesday last week and I'm enjoying training again," he added.
The former Foyle Harps player has eased himself back to training and while he initially found it difficult, he now holds the view that he will join up with his Everton Reserves teammates for competitive football as early as next month before securing a possible loan move to a Championship club to continue his professional development.
"I went on a long run on Monday which I found hard enough and I'm doing sprints now which is good. I'm well rested and feeling much better. The medical staff here at Everton say I'll could be back in training in the next four to six weeks.
"I won't be back in full training for another few weeks yet, I'm just concentrating on getting my fitness back at the minute, that's my first aim. I'll then start looking at playing a couple of matches with the Reserves and maybe then get a loan move for the rest of the season, so we'll see how things go. That's what I'm hoping for now anyway," he declared.
While Duffy, who was named Everton Reserves' 'Player of the Season' will be allowed to resume ball work over the coming weeks, 'Toffees' staff won't be in a major rush to get him back to competitive action.
Everton visit the Sligo Showgrounds on Sunday, August 8th, as part of the deal which took Killybegs native and Duffy's close friend, Seamus Coleman, to Merseyside early last year and the Derry teenager is hoping to be included in the Everton squad which will travel to that game.
Reminiscing on that dramatic week back in May when he lost around two thirds of his blood supply after rupturing an artery, Duffy is thankful to be alive and insists he is forever indebted to the Republic of Ireland's team doctor, Gerry McEntee and the medical staff in the High Dependency Unit at the Mater Hospital who acted swiftly to save his life.
"It was a crazy time, a crazy week," he recalled. "I'm just grateful to everyone in the (Mater) hospital for everything they did for me," he concluded.
The July edition of YBIG Ireland magazine is now available to read online. Interview with the hero of Windsor Park 1993 - Alan McLaughlin, Paul byrne interview, World Cup Nuggets,Qatar's World Cup 2022 (watch the video),Ybig skits and plenty more.click the link on the sidebar for this months edition
Ireland will play Norway in a friendly at the Aviva Stadium in November.
Giovanni Trapattoni's men, who will by then be four games into the qualifying campaign for Euro 2012, will face the Norwegians in Dublin on 17 November.
The sides last met in a friendly in Oslo in August 2008 when skipper Robbie Keane scored in a 1-1 draw.
Charlton and Ireland goalkeeper Darren Randolph has signed for Motherwell on a three-year deal
The 23 year-old comes recommend by former Scotland and Charlton player Christian Daily who speaks highly of the Bray born player.
The Ireland U-21 international had grown frustrated at a lack of first team action last season.
But after featuring and impressing in the club's last 11 games last season was expected to compete with the Addicks Rob Eliot for the No. 1 jersey.
Earlier in the week Motherwell boss Brown said his best bet of bringing in new faces lay with the sale of defender Mark Reynolds.
The 23-year-old Irishman is available under freedom of contract and former Scotland boss Brown has pulled off something of a coup in persuading Randolph to leave League 1 outfit Charlton.
Randolph has played at every level for Ireland youths and earned a B cap but has yet to make the full senior squad.
