Argentina will be the first team to take on Ireland at the new Aviva Stadium, the FAI have announced.
The two-time World Cup winners will visit Dublin for the clash on August 11, 2010 at the new 50,000 capacity stadium, marking the first international match in the arena since construction began in place of the old Lansdowne Road.
The stadium is on schedule to open for the original date set of late summer next year.
John Delaney, CEO of the FAI said: “I am very happy to have reached this agreement with Argentina, who will be fitting opponents to mark an opening international match of such significance.
"Aviva Stadium will be joint owned by the FAI and the IRFU and represents the single largest infrastructural project in the Association’s history. I look forward to welcoming Argentina to Dublin next year to help us celebrate that achievement.”
Giovanni Trapattoni hailed the new-found richness of his squad after seeing an Ireland side featuring six debutants emerge from a rugged friendly with Nigeria with a 1-1 draw. The Africans also fielded an experimental line-up but the Irish manager said his makeshift team's display gave him renewed hope for the future.
"I was a little bit afraid before this match because Nigeria are not just one of the best sides in Africa but in the world," said the Italian. "They are faster and stronger than European teams and are also very at ease with the ball. But our new players showed great performances and personality and now I have real options for the future."
Some of the newcomers will have made stronger impressions than others. The Coventry City striker Leon Best was perhaps the most promising, his robustness and dynamism giving him a menacing presence up front. Though Trapattoni expects Caleb Folan to be fit for next week's World Cup qualifier in Bulgaria, he admitted that Best could fill the role if required.
"He showed he can be a strong target man and this is what we want because it allows Robbie to have the space to play between the midfield and the striker," said Trapattoni. Keane and Best linked well, the Tottenham Hotspur player twice putting his young partner through on goal only for Best's shots to be repelled first by Sam Sodje and then by the goalkeeper Austin Ejide. Best also headed against the post after another debutant, Sean St Ledger, had nodded a Liam Lawrence free-kick back across goal.
With right-back a regular area of concern for Ireland, Kevin Foley was perhaps the newcomer that Ireland most needed to succeed but the Wolves defender endured a difficult introduction to international football. He was at fault for Nigeria's goal, Mike Enemaro exploiting his sluggishness to turn a low Femi Olubayo cross into the net from seven yards.
That setback roused Ireland and they twice went close before Keane equalised eight minutes later, collecting a canny Keith Andrews through-ball before rounding the goalkeeper and rolling the ball into the net. "The first half was a very beautiful game and our goal was lovely," gushed Trapattoni.
The second period was less attractive, mainly because both managers made a raft of changes as their attention shifted to next week's qualifiers.
Ireland had the majority of possession but lacked the creativity to conjure clear-cut chances. A miscued clearance by Ejide gave them their best opportunity of the second half but the goalkeeper redeemed himself by acrobatically flipping Shane Long's 30-yard lob wide.
Despite all the new faces, it was a familiar figure whom Trapattoni singled out for praise. After seeing Keane claim his 39th international goal, Trapattoni enthused: "He was great again and his morale is very high now. He is so important for us because he is the one who gives time to our other players."
Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni is sure Nigeria will provide tough opposition in their friendly at Craven Cottage on Friday.
The Italian is hoping for a meaningful test before the World Cup qualifier against Bulgaria on 6 June.
Trapattoni said "It's a very difficult game and a good test for some new players.
"I want to see Sean St Ledger playing against a strong team like Nigeria and Liam Lawrence can enrich our squad."
Preston duo Eddie Nolan and St Ledger are in line to make their debuts, while Stoke midfielder Lawrence is expected to start after impressing in the Potters' Premier League survival campaign.
The 27-year-old is hoping to cement his place on the right-hand side of the Ireland midfield.
He said: "If I do get that chance it's up to me to take it. One thing I do is work hard and do my best every week no matter what game it is and I think the fans appreciate that even if you're having a bad game."
With Reading striker Kevin Doyle ruled out with a calf strain and Hull's Caleb Folan suffering from a knee injury, Coventry's Leon Best looks set to partner Robbie Keane in attack. He is more than grateful for the opportunity.
The Nottingham-born former Southampton striker said: "I feel as if it's a blessing. I think my season's been up and down but to get a call up for the full international team is great. I'm just delighted to be here.
"It's a massive learning curve and I think if I do get thrown in then all the players will help me. It's a lot different but it's still football.
"Hopefully I can do everything the manager wants me to do and I can see the certain resemblance between me and Caleb."
One of Trapattoni's biggest tasks might be lifting the spirits of some members of his squad who have ended their club seasons on a sour note by failing to make play-off finals or, in Damien Duff's case, scoring an own goal that confirmed his side's [Newcastle] relegation.
The legendary manager had some simple advice for the player when he arrived for training.
He said: "He was not happy but I spoke with him and told him he has to score a goal in the other half."
Derry's Ireland midfielder Darron Gibson was delighted with his match winning performance for Manchester United in their 1-0 victory at Hull City today.
Gibson capped a breakthrough year for the 21-year-old with his glorious strike, which he admitted he would savour as his first in the Premier League.
"It was my first goal in the Premier League so it has to be one of my best," he told MUTV.
Gibson will travel with the United squad to Rome, and after playing a significant role in the club's Carling Cup success, as well as making his first start for the Republic of Ireland back in October, is already reflecting on a memorable season.
"I think this season has been brilliant for me," he added.
"I have played more games than I thought I would have so I have been happy. My aim now for next season is to push for a place and to try and push for a place each week."
He added: "I think the win today shows just what the squad has in terms of strength and depth. It shows anyone in the squad can come in and do a job."
Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has given his strongest indication yet that he would like to extend his tenure as Ireland international manager.
Trapattoni’s two-year deal with the FAI expires in May of 2010 – a month before the World Cup finals in South Africa – but speaking yesterday in Dublin, the 70-year-old managerial veteran indicated that he has longer-term plans for the Irish job.
Asked if he would like to stay for the 2012 European Championship, Trapattoni replied: "Marco (Tardelli) and I have said before that we are proud to be managing Ireland. We would be very happy to be able to continue this work, we don’t want to leave it halfway and not finished. I think we’ve done a good job – we haven’t excelled, we can do a little better and there’s more to do. We have some young players and there is room for improvement so we want to work on that."
The FAI have said that they will only comment on contracts when there is something new to report but, last month, when asked about the manager’s position, chief executive John Delaney remarked: "The preference for any football club or national association is to have somebody for a longer period of time. But we’re in the results business and everyone knows that."
And results is what was uppermost in Giovanni Trapattoni’s mind yesterday as he unveiled a 25-man squad for the friendly against Nigeria on May 29 at Craven Cottage in London which will then be cut to 22 for the crucial World Cup qualifier against Bulgaria in Sofia on June 6. The manager made no bones about the importance of the game in Bulgaria in shaping the outcome of the group and, especially, the battle for second spot and a play-off place. The Irish currently lie second in Group 8, two points behind leaders Italy and five head of Bulgaria who have a game in hand.
"The result of that game will be most important for our qualification," Trapattoni said. "And for Bulgaria, it could be the last opportunity to keep their qualification hopes alive. We want to keep a distance between us and them in the table so, while we will look to win, it’s very, very important that we don’t lose."
Trap’s understandable desire to give Kevin Doyle every chance to prove his fitness by naming the struggling Reading striker in his squad shows the importance of Doyle to the managers plans. Doyle sustained an Achilles injury in the first leg of his club’s semi-final promotion play-off and, while an initial scan wasn’t definitive, there was a general acceptance that he was unlikely to be fit for the game in Sofia.
However, Trapattoni yesterday revealed that Doyle will train again this week and have a second scan to see if there is a fresh reaction to his injury.
"I had this injury when I was a player and I have had many players who have had it," said Trapattoni. "Muscular injuries are very dangerous. Only if we are 100 per cent certain that he is fit will we decide he can play because a new injury in this position could be very difficult to recover from for September. Because he’s an extremely important player for us, I cannot run the risk of making the injury worse and having him out for two months."
Hull City’s Caleb Folan now tops the list of candidates to partner Robbie Keane should Doyle be ruled out, although Trapattoni could also turn to Shane Long or Andy Keogh.
Providing extra attacking cover – but much more likely to see action in the friendly against Nigeria – is Coventry City’s Leon Best, one of five uncapped outfield players in the squad, alongside Liam Lawrence (Stoke City), Sean St Ledger (Preston), Eddie Nolan (Preston) and Kevin Foley (Wolves).
John O’ Shea will be excused the Nigeria game to allow him time to recover from the Champions’ League final while the manager also made clear that Damien Duff will not be playing at left-back for Ireland as he has been in recent weeks for Newcastle United.
Meanwhile, no Trapattoni press conference is ever complete without reference to the self exiled Stephen Ireland, and the Italian couldn’t suppress a wry smile when asked what he made of Roy Keane’s suggestion that the manager should sleep outside Ireland’s house if that’s what it takes to entice the Manchester City man back into the Irish fold.
"I say ‘thanks to Roy’ and if he wants to help me then maybe he can sleep outside Stephen’s house," said Trapattoni. "It is up to Stephen to say that he wants to come back. Maybe he will review in his head that he wishes to come back in the future or maybe next season.
"That is important. The first time I saw him I could see his quality. He moves the ball well and passes it immediately before they can take it off him.
"But I cannot force him. I cannot force him."
Yet, the manager continues to resist eliminating Ireland altogether from this World Cup plans.
"No, no. Maybe during the summer, near the sea he can think about it, and ‘oh’. We have people who have the heart for the Ireland team and the Irish people. We are Italian but will do all we can to get the results for Ireland.
"But Stephen Ireland must decide. I think he is a little bit shy but I don’t know why.
"But if his view is that ‘at the moment I am quiet, I am happy and I stay at home with my family’ then that’s okay. That’s what he decides. It’s not my decision, it is his decision."
Giovanni Trapattoni today named a squad of 25 players for the forthcoming International friendly against Nigeria on May 29 in London
Ireland Squad:
Goalkeepers
Shay Given - Manchester City
Dean Kiely - West Brom
Keiren Westwood - Coventry City
Defence
Eddie Nolan - Preston North End
Sean St. Ledger - Preston North End
John O'Shea - Manchester United
Kevin Foley - Wolves
Paul McShane - Sunderland
Richard Dunne - Manchester City
Stephen Kelly - Birmingham City
Kevin Kilbane - Hull City
Midfield
Aiden McGeady - Glasgow Celtic
Damien Duff - Newcastle United
Darron Gibson - Manchester United
Glenn Whelan - Stoke City
Keith Andrews - Blackburn Rovers
Liam Miller - QPR
Stephen Hunt - Reading
Andy Keogh - Wolves
Liam Lawrence - Stoke City
Forward
Caleb Folan - Hull City
Kevin Doyle - Reading
Robbie Keane - Tottenham Hotspur
Shane Long - Reading
Leon Best - Coventry City
Ireland striker Kevin Doyle is set to be out of action for up to a month with a calf injury.
The Ireland international sustained the problem in the first leg of the play-off semi-final against Burnley and will now miss Ireland's crucial World Cup qualifier with Bulgaria on June 6.
Doyle's injury is a blow to Ireland and Trapattoni may decide to start with a Robbie Keane/Caleb Folan front line.
Reading physio Jon Fearn said "Kevin has damaged muscle in his calf but the scans show no damage to the Achilles tendon. It`s difficult to assess how long he`ll be out, but it should be no more than four weeks."
Celtic have had an offer for 18-year-old midfielder James McCarthy rejected by Hamilton Academical.
The Scottish Premier League leaders tabled their bid for the Ireland u21 international on Wednesday and talks have followed between the two clubs.
But Accies manager Billy Reid said on Thursday: "The club have received an offer for James. I can say at this stage that it will be rejected."
However, the player would prefer a move to Celtic than to an English club and an improved offer appears likely.
Hamilton had already rejected a bid of about £500,000 from Portsmouth for McCarthy, who has represented Ireland at under age level.
A number of English Premier League clubs were again represented at New Douglas Park on Wednesday as McCarthy played in Accies' 1-0 defeat by Falkirk.
And Everton, Newcastle, Tottenham, Middlesbrough, Wigan, Blackburn, Sunderland, Wolves and Ipswich have all been linked with the teenager.
But the player's agent, Willie McKay, said: "It is a dream for a kid from Glasgow to play for Celtic or Rangers and, if Celtic can come close to the offers made by other clubs, they must be favourites as he would love to play for the club.
"His family will have a big say in where he eventually goes.
"Celtic know how much Premiership clubs are offering and I'm sure they would be prepared to pay what would be a lot of money for a teenager."
McKay thinks the 18-year-old is likely to become the highest-paid teenager in Scottish football history should the deal be concluded.
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell and Accies chairman Ronnie MacDonald held discussions about McCarthy on Wednesday, but no agreement has yet been reached.
And a deal is unlikely to be concluded until relegation-threatened Hamilton secure their place in the Scottish Premier League next season.
However, McKay believes that the time might be right for McCarthy, who was voted PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year, to move and ensure Hamilton's production line of promising youths continues.
"He resisted going to Liverpool to stay at Hamilton and I think the boy showed his loyalty to the club," said the agent.
The challenge for the Ireland squad over the next month will be to maintain their fitness and sharpness at a time when some of the non-Premiership players would be expecting to head off on holiday for a well earned rest after the rigours of tough season.
And with the Premiership finishing on May 24th and Ireland not due to play the crucial away game against Bulgaria until June 6th, the onus will be on the players to maintain a strong focus on the game in Sofia.
Victory would put Ireland in a strong position for the remaining qualifying matches with their sights set on overhauling Italy and claiming that one automatic qualifying place in Group 8 for the finals in South Africa next Summer.
Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni will select his squad for the match against Bulgaria next week and will be looking forward to bringing his squad together for the friendly against Nigeria in London on the 29th of May. The Friendly may well give some fringe players the chance to impress Trapattoni prior to the remaining World Cup qualifiers and could see players like Sean St Ledger and young SPL player of the year James McCarthy receive a call up for the Nigeria clash.
Reading manager Steve Coppell attributes Kevin Doyle's significant dip in form to his international exploits with Ireland.
“This is the conflict with international football,” Coppell said “I know how much playing for your country means to players, especially for the Irish boys here at Reading.
“Ireland had some important games and he wanted to play even though he wasn’t fully fit. I couldn’t stop him but it meant he came back to us worse off and we have suffered because of it.
“Saying that, he has got to play for his country. I would never tell anyone not to because it is an honour.
“But after all that has happened, we do feel that we are owed. It is time for him and all the senior players to deliver.”
Doyle played for the first half in today's 1-0 away defeat to Burnley in the Championship semi-final play-off game today.
And Doyle branded himself “stupid” for playing through the pain barrier and now admits a brief rest when the injury first arose would have cured the problem.
“My knee feels so much better now than it has for the last 10 weeks or so,” he said. “It started a few weeks before I last joined up with Ireland towards the end of March and it’s been at me ever since.
“If I had stopped playing then it probably would have been right in no time. But I would have missed Ireland’s games against Italy and Bulgaria which were big World Cup qualifiers, as well as some big ones with Reading.
“But I kept taking painkillers and anti-inflammatories and made it worse. That’s why it’s taken longer to clear up than it should have.”
And he admitted: “It wasn’t anyone’s fault but mine. I just didn’t have a chance to rest it. Looking back now I was stupid. Had I missed one or two games at the time I would have been fine.
“No-one knows I’ve been playing with a sore knee either so I haven’t been doing myself justice. It was stupid of me. At 25 I really should know better and hopefully next time I will.”
Ireland U21 star James McCarthy capped off a remarkable season when he was named as Scotland's young player of the year last night.
Celtic's Scott Brown was voted the players' player of the year at the Scottish PFA awards, but midfielder McCarthy, still only 18, took home the young player award.
McCarthy, capped twice at U21 level by Ireland, has scored six goals in 33 SPL games for Hamilton this season, including both goals in a vital 2-1 win for the relegation-threatened side in a win over Kilmarnock on Saturday.Meanwhile Hamilton Academicals manager Billy Reid believes that James McCarthy’s immediate future still lies at New Douglas Park, despite the interest the youngster has attracted from a host of top clubs.
Reid watched the 18-year-old put in one of his most impressive shifts for the club on Saturday, tearing Kilmarnock apart and scoring both goals in his side’s 2-1 win.
Although there are plenty of teams who would love to pry the young Irish under 21 international away from Lanarkshire come the summer transfer window, Reid hopes he can hang on to his prized asset for a little longer.
“He’s in no hurry to leave, but if something comes up and James thinks it’s right for him and the club we’ll sit down and that could be the case” said Reid.
“But I think he sees the education he’s getting at this club.
“There were eyebrows raised when he didn’t go and sign for Celtic or Liverpool when they were interested at 15 years old, but I think he’s been proven right.
“He’s matured as a young man and is enjoying his football here.”
Young Player of the Year nominee McCarthy more than justified his inclusion in the list of candidates for the award in the crucial relegation dogfight, displaying all the credentials that have earned him endless praise over the season.
His manager believes that when the starlet is at peak fitness he can be simply unstoppable.
“He has no weaknesses” insists Reid. “Whatever’s thrown in front of him he deals with it, on and off the park, and all credit to him.
“He’s been running on empty on recent weeks. We tend to forget he’s only 18 and you can see at training that he’s tired.
“It’s been a long season for him, but the few breaks we’ve had recently have helped him enormously.
“When he’s fresh, he’s a fantastic football player who has everything. Vision, pace, goals and he links up the play, and he works back the way as well which is important.
“He is outstanding.”
Roy Keane has spoken about the continuing saga regarding Stephen Ireland's self inflicted exile from the Ireland international squad and the criticism of Trapattoni regarding Andy Reid's exclusion from the squad during the present World Cup qualifying campaign.
“I remember hearing about Brian Clough trying to get Archie Gemmill to sign for Forest – he slept on his sofa. That’s what I’d do with Stephen . . . well, I wouldn’t sleep on his sofa, I would sleep outside his house to try and get him back for Ireland,” he said.
“I’m sure (Giovanni) Trapattoni has done all he can to get him back, but he would obviously make a big, big difference to the Irish team. He’s pure quality, the lad. He’s been one of the most consistent players in the Premier League this season, in an inconsistent Manchester City team.
“But, having said that, if he doesn’t want to play – and he’ll have his own reasons, stuff we might never know about – then that has to be respected. Unfortunately. But you never know: never say never. He’s retired from international football, but lots of players have done that and come back,” he laughed.
Would Ireland, long-term, regret his decision not to play for his country? “Ah well, I don’t think you have regrets, but you do make mistakes. What I would say to him if I ever bumped in to him in Manchester – whether or not he’d want to chat to me I don’t know – is ‘listen, your career is over before you know it. If you have the opportunity to play for Ireland under a good manager then go for it’.
“As I said, I don’t know the lad, I’ve never met him, he might have a reason for not coming back and we have to respect it, whatever it might be. But I’d persevere – if I was Trapattoni I would literally sleep outside his house.”
The prospect, though, of Keane sleeping outside Trapattoni’s house in an effort to convince him that Andy Reid is worth an international recall seems remote. “The fuss about Reidy being left out of the squad is unbelievable, way over the top,” he said of the player he signed for Sunderland in January of last year.
“Andy Reid doesn’t deserve to be in the Irish squad at this moment in time. He’s not doing enough.
“That’s what I like about Trapattoni, he’s an experienced manager, he looks at players who are in form, who are playing week in, week out. It’s not as if Ireland are having bad results. I think they’re doing very well, I have to say I’ve been impressed – look at the players we’ve got, I think they’re all playing to their maximum. The likes of Reidy, (Lee) Carsley, one or two others, don’t have too much to complain about, to be honest with you.
“Trapattoni has more experience than all of us put together, so I wouldn’t dare question what he’s doing.”
He did, though, question Trapattoni’s “loyalty” to a couple of his players, who Keane refused to name, ones he said were “playing on past reputations”. “You pick players on their form. (Fabio) Capello seems to do it. It’s all well and good being loyal to players, but there’s a fine line between loyalty and stupidity. One or two players just turn up and they’re picked for Ireland. One in particular . . . he’s picked every time he comes over, I can’t work that one out.”
Bolton and Ireland full back Joey O'Brien has revealed his plans for his recovery from injury in the close-season.
The Ireland defender has had another injury plagued campaign, and will be working during the summer to regain his fitness in time for first team action next season.
The defender's bad luck with injury has led him to make just eight Premier League appearances this season, with six starts and two as a substitute.
The 23-year-old Dubliner has recently undergone knee surgery in order to put an end to his injury worries, and the defender is determined to work hard in the coming weeks to try and get to full match fitness.
The defender, who has not played a game for the Trotters since last October, feels the rest of the team will need a big rest at the end of the season, but says it will not be the same for him.
Speaking about the coming months, O'Brien said, "The lads deserve a summer off but it won't be like that for me. It will be six weeks of really hard graft."
The Ireland international joined the Trotters as a youth player back in 2002, and has made a total of 50 Premier League appearances for the club since his promotion to the first team in 2004.
There are only three outfield players in the history of world football to play 50 or more consecutive competitive games for their country. The first was Wolverhampton Wanderers and England legend Billy Wright, the first player ever to reach 100 international caps. The second was Theodoris Zagorakis, the captain of the Greece side that won UEFA EURO 2004.
The third is Kevin Kilbane, Ireland's left-back, who represented his country at the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™ and is hoping to play an instrumental part in taking the boys in green all the way to South Africa 2010.
Kilbane's amazing run began back in 1999 when Ireland faced Macedonia in a qualifier for UEFA EURO 2000. His half-century was achieved in Montenegro last September and, since then, the 32-year-old has played against Cyprus, Bulgaria, Georgia and Italy to take his tally of successive appearances to 54.
"I'm very proud of it," said Kilbane, with a modest smile. "I've tried to give my all in every game I've played in. I've probably been slightly lucky along the way where injuries are concerned. I've managed to stay injury-free whereas fellow internationals have got injured at the wrong time and missed international games and squads. "
The Hull City man now finds himself on 95 caps for Ireland, seven short of his former international team-mate and manager, Steve Staunton, who has 102. While Kilbane is not distracted by the record, he admits that he is going to give himself every opportunity to achieve it.
"You never know what can happen in international football," he smiled. "The games are spread out over a long period of time, but I'm hoping that I can continue being in the squad and try and help the team progress to another major tournament. If I can stay in the side and stay fit and healthy, then who knows?
"I can understand players who retire from international football because you do make a lot of sacrifices. You spend a lot of time away from your family and sometimes you play a lot of games in a very short space of time. But at the moment I feel fit, strong and I love been part of the Irish set-up and I feel very comfortable. It's where I want to be for a lot longer yet."
Ireland's results and, consequently the atmosphere in the squad, have been boosted by the arrival of Giovanni Trapattoni as manager. The Italian has won league titles with five different clubs in four different countries and the former Everton star believes that his pedigree and experience will be a key factor in their hopes of making it to the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
"He's brought a lot of steel to the team. We've stopped conceding silly goals at inappropriate times. We've won a lot of games 1-0, which is how we've achieved success in the past. More than anything else though, he's brought togetherness to us all and he's developing a squad which we think is capable of going on to qualify for South Africa.
"We've got a long way to go, but we have played some good football so far and got some decent results. We slipped up slightly against Bulgaria in our last home game by not winning, but bounced back with a good result against Italy in Bari. We need to continue the form we showed at the start of the campaign and maintain it. Hopefully, that will be enough to see us through."
Many people are tipping Ireland to finish second in Group 8 behind current world champions Italy, which should be enough to give Trapattoni's side a play-off match against a fellow European runner-up for a place in South Africa. Kilbane has experience of two such matches, a failure against Portugal in the run-up to EURO 2000 and a success against Iran over two legs that secured the Republic a place at Korea/Japan 2002.
"There's a lot riding on these games and consequently there's a lot of pressure," he recalled. "Usually, you find that a mistake or a set piece can win the match. The games are tight, cautious, opposition are always hard to break down and you just have to defend well. Hopefully, your team has enough quality to get you through in the end. If you do get through, there's a fantastic experience waiting for you at the end of it."
Hamilton and Ireland starlet James McCarthy maintains he is ‘happy’ where he is, despite clubs circling around the young midfielder.
Rangers and Celtic have been widely reported to be interested in the 18-year-old, but he is in no hurry to leave the Lanarkshire club.
“I’m happy just now but I’ll need to just see what happens, I’m contracted to Hamilton and if a deal comes in to Hamilton and the chairman’s happy then we’ll sit down and speak,” McCarthy said.
“The Old Firm are massive clubs in Scotland and it would be great to go to either.
“But I’m happy where I am, playing week-in-week-out in The SPL at Hamilton Accies and you can’t get much better than that for a boy my age.”
McCarthy was speaking after being nominated for the Young Player of the Year award, but he maintains that SPL survival with Hamilton is more important than individual success.
He explained: “I’m delighted, it’s always great to be voted for by your fellow professionals, but there’s three other great professionals there - James McArthur, Andrew Driver and Steven Fletcher- but I’m delighted to be amongst the four em>
“My main aim is keeping Hamilton in The SPL first before taking this award and I’d be more pleased to stay in this division.”
He added: “We’ve gone throught a sticky patch just now when we’ve not been able to score, but we’ve got a big game coming up against Inverness and it’s one we’re all looking forward to.
“I’m sure we can stay up, we’ve got five games to go and hopefully we can pick up some points and score a few goals.”
Ireland U17 striker Parick McEleney is staying at Sunderland after the young Derry man was confirmed as one of eight players who will be involved at the Sunderland academy of light next season.
The former St. Brigid’s College pupil will be joined at Sunderland by fellow Ireland U17 international John Egan from Cork.
McEleney scored on his Irish debut against Bulgaria in August 2008 and is tipped for a bright future within the game. He currently plays for Foyle Harps and represented the Derry & District League in the squad which won the Foyle Cup in July 2008.
No doubt McEleney will be keen to emulate the progress of fellow Derry international Darron Gibson who has been a constant feature within Giovanni Trapattoni’s Ireland senior squad and who made a positive impact when he came on as a second half substitute in the recent 1-1 draw away to World Champions Italy in Bari.
Derry's Ireland and Manchester United midfielder, Darron Gibson, has said that he thought Ireland were unlucky not to have won against World champions Italy last Wednesday and described the 1-1 draw as "massive".
"It was a massive result for us," said Gibson. "And to be fair we probably could have won it at the end. We all knew that we needed to get something out of the game after drawing with Bulgaria last weekend in Croke Park."
The 21 year-old midfielder replaced Blackburn Rovers player, Keith Andrews in the 55th minute. He refused to take any credit for helping the team to secure a point but praised the decision-making of manager, Giovanni Trapattoni.
"A few people have said to me that I changed the game when I came on but I wouldn't want to say that myself," he said. "For most of the match we were passing the ball sideways and when Trapattoni decided to bring me on he told me to try and pass the ball forward. Obviously his decision to change things paid dividends because Robbie went on to score the equaliser."
Gibson explained that he was not close enough to comment on the controversial sending off of Italian forward Giampalo Pazzini in the opening minutes of the game.
"It was at the opposite side of the pitch from me so it was hard to see what had actually happened. It looked like his arms were up high but I don't think he meant to catch John O'Shea the way he did and I suppose the referee made a decision from what he saw afterwards with the blood coming from John's head. But to be honest I didn't really see it so I can't really say."
Having failed to take all three points at home to Bulgaria last week, Gibson admitted that the team were disappointed but he took comfort from the fact that they can strengthen their chance of either winning the group or finishing in second when both teams meet in Sofia in June.
"We were disappointed not to beat Bulgaria at the weekend and obviously the next game is massive because they have a game in hand and they are not too far behind us. The mood in the camp is good at the minute and we are looking forward to our trip to Sofia in June."
IT was, without doubt, the result of the week on the international stage and Caleb Folan is determined to use Ireland's draw in Italy as a springboard towards helping Hull City to safety.
The Tigers striker came off the bench midway through the first half on Wednesday night and capped an impressive display by playing a part in Robbie Keane's late equaliser.
In contrast to his exploits with Ireland, Folan's domestic season has been dogged by injury and loss of form with his only goal of the season having come in the opening-day win at home to Fulham.
However, after helping the Irish silence a partisan home crowd in Bari, the 26-year-old is now hoping to play a full part in keeping City in the Premier League.
He said: "Being away gave me the opportunity to play a bit. It also gave me the chance to experience a different kind of football at international level.
"You are up against players with different styles of play and that helps to prepare you for what is to come in the remainder of the season.
"Getting on to the pitch gave me that bit of a boost and a bit of confidence. Hopefully, I can bring that back here and perform in the same way.
"You get a lot of time to yourself when you are away and that gives you an opportunity to reflect. You often think about the games that are coming up for your club and we want to be a Premier League team next season.
"You have time to think about what you need to do and we know we have to start winning a few games."
Robbie Keane has warned reigning World Cup champions Italy that Ireland are ready to inflict further pain on them as the World Cup qualifying campaign comes to a finale.
Ireland stunned the world champions in Bari on Wednesday night when Keane snatched an 87th-minute equaliser to ensure the race for top spot in Group Eight is still alive and up for grabs.
Marcello Lippi's team remain two points clear of Ireland, who bounced back from their failure to beat Bulgaria at Croke Park on Saturday to deny the Italians a five-point lead at the top of group 8.
Robbie said: "We are still hanging in there. We still have Italy to play at home and we still have some tough games away as well - but Italy do as well.
"It is still hanging in the balance."
Asked if Ireland could still win the group, Keane replied: "Of course we can."
Robbie Keane kept Ireland's dreams of automatic qualification for the World Cup finals in South Africa alive with a late equaliser to deny ten-man Italy victory.
The Tottenham striker stabbed home an 87th-minute shot in Bari to claim a point that keeps Ireland within touching distance of the Italians at the top of Group Eight.
It also ensured manager Giovanni Trapattoni a share of the spoils against his native country and the man who replaced him as Italian national boss, Marcello Lippi.
The reigning World champions took an 11th-minute lead through Vincenzo Iaquinta despite having had striker Giampaolo Pazzini sent off with only three minutes gone in the game.
But the Ireland players showed true Irish grit and got their reward in the end as they retained their foothold in the race to make it to South Africa next summer.
Early drama has become a feature of Ireland's recent games with Poland and Georgia stunning the hosts at home by taking the lead within minutes of kick-off and Ireland reversing the trend with Richard Dunne's opener only 40 seconds into Saturday's 1-1 draw with Bulgaria in Croke Park.
However, with Italian coaches Lippi and Trapattoni having prepared painstakingly for an eagerly-anticipated contest, both had their plans ripped apart before their players had the chance to put their managers game plans to the test.
Kevin Kilbane, whose late own goal had handed the Bulgarians a point on Saturday, collided into Pazzini within a minute and was perhaps lucky to escape a yellow card.
The striker, making his first senior start for his country, was not quite so lucky two minutes later when he caught John O'Shea with a flailing elbow, which drew blood and the red card from German referee Wolfgang Stark's pocket.
Replays suggested the decision had been harsh, a view certainly shared by the home supporters, who had earlier jeered Lippi for his refusal to select Bari-born Antonio Cassano.
But if Trapattoni sensed an opportunity, his hopes were dashed within eight minutes as the world champions demonstrated their class in devastating style.
Andrea Pirlo received the ball from full-back Fabio Grosso and delivered it perfectly back into the defender's path to allow him to drill a cross through the ineffectual Paul McShane and Andy Keogh.
Iaquinta was unmarked in the middle to dispatch the simplest of chances and any perceived advantage for Ireland had been wrenched from their grasp.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, it was the supremely organised Italians who were dominating the game and Trapattoni uncharacteristically opted for a change with only 22 minutes gone.
The Ireland boss has stuck rigidly to his favoured system since deciding that was how best to make use of the players at his disposal.
But in withdrawing Andy Keogh, who had started wide on the right in place of the injured Aiden McGeady, and sending on Hull City striker Caleb Folan, he shuffled his pack to good effect.
Keane dropped into the hole between a three-man midfield and frontmen Folan and Kevin Doyle, and the change gave them a foothold in the game.
Midfielder Keith Andrews scuffed a 31st-minute effort wide when he should have done better and Stephen Hunt forced a fine save from Gianluigi Buffon with a half-volley five minutes before half time.
Few in green either on the pitch or the thousands in the stands would have been too disappointed to see Pirlo replaced by Angelo Palombo for the restart and he was quickly followed by Derry's Darron Gibson and Andrea Dossena as the two managers sought to out-manoeuvre each other.
Hunt, who was soon to be joined on the pitch by his younge rbrother Noel as Doyle made way, had ambitious appeals for a 56th-minute penalty waved away after he went down under Buffon's challenge but Ireland were at least starting to make an real impression on the game.
But it was not until an enthralling final ten minutes or so that the home side wavered and, when they did, 'The Boys In Green' finally took advantage.
Kilbane saw an 84th-minute shot deflected over as the Italians became increasingly at nervous the back and their anxiety was to increase markedly as the clock ran down.
The Italians finally cracked three minutes later when Folan made a nuisance of himself as he pursued Given's long clearance and, when the ball broke from a scramble, it fell to the right man in the right place - Robbie Keane.
Keane needed no second invitation to stab home the 38th goal of his Ireland senior international career and send the many thousands of travelling supporters behind Buffon's goal into raptures.
It might have got even better in the final minute of the game when the stranded keeper could only look on imploringly as Glenn Whelan's shot looped up off one of his defenders and dropped just wide.
In The end, a solid point for Ireland that keeps them well in the hunt for a World Cup Final spot in South Africa next year.
COME ON YOU BOYS IN GREEN
