James McClean delighted with Ireland performance

Ireland midfielder James McClean hailed a professional performance from his Ireland team-mates after contributing 2 goals in their 7- 0 rout of Euro 2016 qualifying opponents Gibraltar in Dublin yesterday.

Robbie Keane scored a hat-trick inside 12 first-half minutes - including the opener after just six minutes - to give the home side a decisive lead in the Aviva Stadium and take his individual tally in international football to 65.

Derry born Wigan winger McClean then got in on the act after the break, scoring either side of goalkeeper Jordan Perez's own goal, and Wes Hoolahan completed the rout with a 56th-minute effort to make it two wins out of two for the Irish in Group D.

McClean told Sky Sports: "We did a professional job, we prepared the right way. It was important to get the early goal and settle everyone down.

"The goals meant everything. Playing for my country is the greatest privilege in football and to score goals, my first home goals as well, it's something that will be with me forever. Hopefully I can push on from that and get a few more.''

Martin O'Neill's men now take their qualifying campaign to Gelsenkirchen and a meeting with world champions Germany on Tuesday night, and McClean knows the importance of having two wins under their belt ahead of that match.

"We've got six points on the board and from the start that was our objective going into Germany," added McClean.

"We're under no illusions that's going to be a really tough ask, but hopefully we can go there and get at least a point.''

Martin O'Neill names 27 man squad to face Gibraltar in Euro 2016 qualifier

David Forde Millwall 
Shay Given Aston Villa 
Keiren Westwood Sheffield Wednesday 
Rob Elliot Newcastle United 

Richard Keogh Derby County  
Marc Wilson Stoke City 
Seamus Coleman Everton 
John O’Shea Sunderland 
Alex Pearce Reading 
Ciaran Clark Aston Villa  
Stephen Ward Burnley  

Jeff Hendrick Derby County 
Glenn Whelan Stoke City 
Darron Gibson Everton  
Aiden McGeady Everton 
Jon Walters Stoke City 
Anthony Pilkington Cardiff City 
James McClean Wigan 
Robbie Brady Hull City 
Stephen Quinn Hull City 
David Meyler Hull City 
Wes Hoolahan Norwich City 

Robbie Keane LA Galaxy 
Shane Long Southampton 
Daryl Murphy Ipswich Town 
Kevin Doyle Crystal Palace 
Anthony Stokes Celtic 

First training session for new Ireland management team

The Ireland squad has held its first training session under the new management team of Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane, with a large media contingent in attendance.

County Derry born O'Neill was confirmed as successor to Giovanni Trapattoni last week. His assistant organised much of today's session ahead of Friday night's friendly against Latvia at the Aviva Stadium.

Keane wasted little time in making his presence felt this morning, with the 42-year-old arriving at Ireland's training base in Malahide a full 90 minutes before manager Martin O'Neill and his players were due to begin work.

Keane went straight on to the training pitch to ensure everything was in place for the start of the morning session and then inspected the nearby gym facilities.

O'Neill arrived on the team coach and he and Keane looked on as the players warmed up, with keepers David Forde, Keiren Westwood and Rob Elliot working apart with new goalkeeping coach Seamus McDonagh.

The real work began once the cameras had been switched off and journalists asked to leave after their allotted time, with a new era in Irish football well and truly under way.
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Speculation mounts on Martin O'Neill Ireland appointment

Speculation is mounting that Martin O'Neill could soon be unveiled as the new Ireland manager.

A number of bookmakers have suspended betting on the next Irish boss after a flurry of bets saw O’Neill backed off the market.

There are also reports this evening that Roy Keane is  prepared to come on board as assistant to O'Neill.

It's reported that the FAI recruitment team of Ray Houghton and Ruud Dokter will present their report to the Football Association of Ireland early next week.

County Derry born O'Neill has been out of work since departing the Stadium of Light in March and has previously managed Celtic and Aston Villa.

Speculation linking Mick McCarthy with a return to the job he held for six years appears to have cooled.

Ipswich Town confirmed on Thursday that they have received no approach from the FAI for his services.

Hamilton supports Gibson & Wilson's right to play for Ireland

Former Northern Ireland manager Brian Hamilton has openly supported the right of players born in the North of Ireland to choose their own international future. Speaking on RTE radio, Hamilton stated that while he would prefer players to play for Northern Ireland, he accepted that players had the right to play for Ireland and that their choice should be respected by the IFA.

Hamilton’s interview echoes those of present Ireland players like Shay Given who has supported the right of Darron Gibson and Marc Wilson to play for Ireland and also echeos the support of people and politicians the length and breadth of the island who accept that Irishmen have the right to represent Ireland, as is reflected in FIFA’s own rules.

The eligibility issue has again reared its head as the IFA continue their campaign to stop young players having the right to represent their country at international level. The IFA have recently brought the issue to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, despite 3 previous rulings from FIFA stating that the existing situation of players born in the 6 counties being able to represent Trapattoni’s Ireland, remains.

Hamilton, who managed Northern Ireland for 5 years during the 1990’s said that he had respected the decisions of players to opt to play for Ireland during his time as a manager & that some players simply wanted to play for Ireland, rather than the North. Hamilton continued that it was their choice, a choice he fully accepted.

In what perhaps could be construed as a criticism of the Present boss of the North’s team, Nigel Worthington, Hamilton said that he only ever did interviews relating to sporting issues when he was manager and left the other issues to those who dealt with those matters. He stated that managers should only be concerned about the football and the players.

Worthington has been very vocal in his support for the IFA’s campaign to stop Irish players representing Ireland and has totally failed to grasp the concept that players like Gibson, Wilson etc.., like a large percentage of football supporters in the North have always supported and followed Ireland and it is totally natural to want to represent your national side, as has been talked about by County Antrim born international Marc Wilson.

Hamilton has also again voiced his support for the concept of an all Ireland football team and said it would be ‘something very special’ to have an all Ireland side in the future.

Hamilton is one of the many former northern Ireland players who have openly supported the formation of an all Ireland team. Both Martin O’Neill and Pat Jennings have spoken of their support for a single team on the island, former greats George Best and Derek Dougan spoke openly of their support and current Celtic caretaker boss Neil Lennon was abused by thousands of Northern Ireland fans at Windsor Park after a press interview in which he supported the formation of an all Ireland team.