Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has left Steve Finnan, Steven Reid, Andy Reid and Clinton Morrison out of his squad to face France in their World Cup 2010 qualifying play-off.
It had been rumoured that Finnan would be included to address issues with cover in defence. Steven Reid has been played for Blackburn in recent weeks but Trapattoni has opted not to bring the midfielder back into the squad.
Trapattoni has repeatedly omitted Andy Reid from Ireland squads since clashing with the Sunderland midfielder when the side played Georgia in September.
Hibernian striker Anthony Stokes has been called into the squad and Coventry striker Leon Best is also included.
The matches will take place on 14 and 18 November, with Ireland at home for the first leg.Goalkeepers
Shay Given
Keiren Westwood
Joe Murphy
Defenders
John O'Shea
Richard Dunne
Stephen Kelly
Kevin Kilbane
Eddie Nolan
Sean St. Ledger
Paul McShane
Darren O’Dea
Midfielders
Aiden McGeady
Damien Duff
Darron Gibson
Glenn Whelan
Keith Andrews
Liam Miller
Stephen Hunt
Andy Keogh
Liam Lawrence
Forwards
Kevin Doyle
Robbie Keane
Shane Long
Leon Best
Anthony Stokes
The ‘Going Green On November 14’ campaign continues to gather pace with radio interviews, email campaigns, a Facebook group and Twitter pages all being used to publicise and create a momentum within the whole island for the upcoming World cup play-off game with France on November 14th.
Fans from the Ireland supporters forum – You Boys In Green, have been working overtime to try and create the conditions that will turn Croke Park into an Irish fortress for the game.
Even President McAleese has been contacted at Áras an Uachtaráin about wearing Green on the day of the match.
Every radio station, newspaper, media outlet and interested party in the country is being contacted and the hope is that corporate sponsorship can be obtained for card displays, Green t-shirts, huge flags etc.. to turn Croke Park green in mid November and turn the decibel level up to a point that the French team will know what the roar of Ireland’s 12th man sounds like when they come out of the tunnel at Croke Park on the 14TH of November.
The demand for tickets for the home and away legs is huge and both games are already guaranteed sell-outs. An FAI spokesperson said that the demand for tickets for the away leg in Paris was astronomical and with only 8500 tickets available to the Irish fans from official sources, many will use contacts from the previous Irish invasion by 30000 fans of Paris in 2004, to secure tickets for game in France.
For all the latest news on the ‘Going Green On November 14’ campaign visit YBIG, join the Facebook group or follow the campaign on Twitter.
The French Football Federation (FFF) have struck a blow to hopes of Ireland fans after restricting the away side's allocation to 8000 for the second leg of the World Cup play-off in the Stade de France.
The French are running scared of a potential Irish invasion of Paris.In 2004 Ireland were backed by a 30,000 strong support as they held France to a 0-0 draw in a World Cup qualifier in Paris.
Ireland were able to draw such a large contingent of fans into the stadium as match tickets were available online or by telephone and they were snapped up by the Green Army.
But it seems the French have learned their lesson and the tickets will only be available to buy in person.
Ireland host France at Croke Park in Dublin first before the return leg at the Stade de France four days later to decide which of the two teams qualifies for South Africa.
France coach Raymond Domenech, with bitter memories of 2004 when the huge Irish turned up and outsang their French hosts, demanded on Monday that Ireland be limited to a quarter of the total 80,000 available tickets for the Stade de France, namely 20,000.
'We can't have the Irish having more tickets than what they should be allowed, 20,000 - with 60,000 French fans around them,' Domenech told AFP.
The French Football Federation (FFF) proved even stingier on Wednesday when they allocated just 8,000 tickets to the Irish fans.
The FFF's decision was in accordance with their ticket allocation policy during the World Cup qualifiers, although it appears they have also taken Domenech's concerns to heart.
The FFF said no tickets would be sold over the internet to either set of fans, with tickets for the 18 November match going on sale from French retail outlets on Thursday.
The FFF said in a statement: 'The Irish supporters are taken care of directly by their federation, with 10 percent of the total ticket allocation being allocated as was done for all the other World Cup qualifiers.
'There will be no sale of tickets over the internet.'
A maximum of four tickets will be available per transaction and per person and tickets, once bought, would not be transferable.
French football officials added they would be cracking down on the re-sale of tickets at the stadium but also through the internet.
Ireland will meet France in the World Cup play-offs after the draw was made at FIFA headquarters in Zurich this afternoon.
The two legs will be played on Saturday, 14 November and Wednesday, 18 November, with the Republic at home for the first leg.
Draw for the European World Cup play-offs:
Ireland v France
Portugal v Bosnia-Herzegovina
Greece v Ukraine
Russia v Slovenia
Shay Given will captain Ireland in Wednesday night's final World Cup qualifier against Montenegro as he wins his 100th senior international cap.
Manager Giovanni Trapattoni has handed the 33-year-old Donegal man the captain's armband as he and full-back Kevin Kilbane each complete a century to leave themselves only two adrift of Steve Staunton, Ireland's most-capped player.
The Manchester City keeper takes over from Robbie Keane, who may play only 45 minutes at Croke Park as Trapattoni attempts to keep his players fresh for next month's play-off.
Given goes into the game knowing he must avoid a second caution of the qualifying campaign if he is to make himself available for the first match of the play-off.
Midfielders Keith Andrews and Aiden McGeady are likely to be rested for just that reason, while striker Leon Best is also on a yellow card.
Ireland's dramatic 2-2 draw with Italy may have secured them a 2010 World Cup play-off place but for captain Robbie Keane the result triggered mixed emotions.
Ireland thought they had snatched a win over the world champions when Sean St Ledger put them into a 2-1 lead with three minutes remaining on Saturday.
That would have pushed the Irish to within a point of Italy in Group 8 and given them every chance of gaining automatic qualification for South Africa if results went their way in the final batch of qualifiers on Wednesday.
But just as the 70,000 crowd at Croke Park were celebrating, Alberto Gilardino levelled in the final minute to send Italy through and the Irish to the play-offs.
Gilardino's killer blow left Keane and his teammates feeling as though they had lost the match.
Keane reflected: "Of course, that's the reaction you have after the game.
"If it was the 60th minute or something, it's a bit different, but the last few minutes, it's a bit heart-breaking.
"We are in the play-offs now and everyone always expected us in the play-offs. But when you are that close, who knows?
"Italy could have drawn (against Cyprus) on Wednesday. You never know.
"To be this close, it's obviously difficult. But we have to pick ourselves back up. It's done now."
Ireland's Italian coach Giovanni Trapattoni bemoaned his side's lack of experience.
"We are happy but we are also disappointed because the last two minutes we need this experience because we are a young team; we only have four or five senior players.
"I am sure this will be for us a great lesson because we could have won."
He continued: "But we must not defend the result. The last five minutes we must keep the advantage in a game, we must play we must play slowly. But with three minutes to go, we concede to a counter attack. That is inexperience when you are 2-1 against the world champions.
"That is a silly mistake or habit, to always go upfront. We must learn to control the situation. In training, we have worked on these situations.
"I thought we had it won. But we had too much enthusiasm in the final minutes. We were also tired. But it is difficult when you are building a team and you have 20 or so players from six or seven different clubs. Each of them has different habits at their own club."
Ireland were upset at FIFA's decision to introduce a seeding system for the play-offs, meaning Trapattoni's team are set to face the likes of France, Russia, Portugal or Sweden.
Asked who he wanted to meet Keane replied: "I don't know. Which teams are in it - France, Portugal?
"There are tough teams in there and I am sure we will get one of the toughest teams, there's no question about that.
"We never get an easy ride, do we? No matter what, it is going to be tough.
"We will see who we get. France, Portugal, Ukraine or whoever, it's going to be tough.
"They all have quality players in their team. No matter who we get, it is going to be difficult - but we always make it difficult for ourselves."
Ireland defender Sean St Ledger admits Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Italy is the biggest game of his career.
The central defender has started Ireland's last five games and is set to continue at Croke Park as Giovanni Trapattoni's men attempt to pip the Azzurri to top spot in Group Eight.
Ireland need to guarantee a win to keep their hopes of an automatic qualification spot for next year's tournament in South Africa alive, and 24-year-old St Ledger believes they have nothing to lose.
"I would imagine that, when the fixtures came out, this would be the game everyone was looking at and, from a footballer's point of view, it is probably the same," he said.
"You have to take each game one step at a time but, now the game is here, it is massive.
"It's massive. It's the biggest game of my career to date. We are playing one of the great football nations, not just now but in terms of history as well.
"If you look at the importance of the game, realistically, we are probably looking at the play-offs and that's going to be tough for us.
"But we have got nothing much to lose. We can go out there and try to beat the Italians."
"St Ledger has had a busy year which has seen the defender move from Preston to Middlesbrough on a short-term deal with a view to a permanent move, as well as being thrust onto the international scene.
"Only a few months back I wasn't in the squad at all and now I have got five caps," he added. "It's like a dream come true.
"I wasn't in the squad to go to Italy, which was obviously disappointing at the time, but it is going to be strange walking out with the likes of Gattuso and people like that.
"Only a couple of years ago, I was playing against Bradford in front of 2,000 people and their dogs. It's a major difference but something I would like to taste more of."
Shay Given is desperate to give the Irish nation a chance to dance in the streets as he once did by securing another trip to the World Cup finals.
The Irish keeper was a teenager back in 1994 when Ray Houghton’s strike at Giants Stadium in New York saw off the mighty Italy and sparked one of the most memorable nights in Ireland’s football history.
Fifteen years on, 33-year-old Given will be between the posts as Ireland attempt to repeat the feat against the Italians, the reigning World champions, at Croke Park on Saturday evening with a place at next summer’s finals in South Africa at stake.
Asked about that night, Given said: “I was in Lifford, back in Donegal with the family watching it. It’s a special memory.
“Looking back over the history of Ireland, it was a special goal. Ray Houghton chipped (Gianluca) Pagliuca and we were celebrating around the cars in Lifford as if we had won the World Cup.
“It was a special atmosphere and great memories, and it is up to us as a team to try to recreate some of those memories. The only way we can do that is to get back to the World Cup.
“There will be young guys growing up in Ireland wanting to support us and South Africa next year, and it is up to us to get the country there.”
Even victory at the weekend would leave Ireland with work to do when they meet Montenegro in Dublin on Wednesday evening with Italy currently four points clear at the top of Group Eight and hot favourites to claim the one automatic qualification spot.
However, Given, whose side need two more points to at least clinch a play-off berth, is determined to heap as much pressure as possible on Marcello Lippi’s men for the final game at home to Cyprus.
He said: “Of course we would love to top the group, and that rules out the play-offs.
“But obviously, Italy are in the driving seat and even if they lose on Saturday, they have still got Cyprus at home on the Wednesday.
“But we would like to put the pressure on the Italians in the last game.
“We need two points to guarantee second and hopefully, we can get three on Saturday and then we will see what happens on Wednesday.”
There has been dismay and anger within the Ireland camp since they met up at their training base in Malahide on Tuesday at FIFA’s decision last week to seed the draw for play-offs, an announcement they believe leaves them at a considerable disadvantage.
However, Trapattoni, who called for the rule to be changed in the future, is nevertheless confident his team can get results against the best – as they did when they drew 1-1 in Italy in April – and Given agrees.
He said: “We will not be afraid of anybody, but I just feel what FIFA did was wrong.
“But when it comes around to if we do end up in the play-offs, then whoever we get picked against, we will be right up for it and results like the one away in Italy against the world champions will give us huge belief whoever we are drawn against.”
Given, like full-back Kevin Kilbane, will win his 99th senior international cap, if selected, against the Italians, and they would then become just the second and third Irishmen to complete a century against Montenegro, following in the footsteps of Steve Staunton.
However, that will all be secondary as the Manchester City goalkeeper attempts to make a return trip to the biggest stage of all after playing at the 2002 finals in the Far East.
He said: “It was the highlight of my Irish career to play in the World Cup finals.
“The Houghton goal was the highlight as a fan, but to actually play in a World Cup finals is something very special and something I want to be part of again.
“There are two massive games coming up and a lot of points at stake and important points. We have got to really focus on what we do as a team and not on me getting 100 caps.”
Manchester United's Waterford born defender John O'Shea has revealed his strong desire to go to next summer's World Cup with Ireland, having missed the squad back in his country's previous appearance in the competition in 2002.
The versatile defender failed to make the Ireland cut for the World Cup in 2002. Now firmly entrenched in coach Giovanni Trapattoni's plans, he admits that making it to the World Cup would be as big as anything he has achieved with the Red Devils.
"Obviously Mick stuck with the squad that got him there and there was no problem with that," O'Shea said to The Irish Independent.
"It would have been great to go. To get to a World Cup would be huge, it would be up there with anything that I've done. Time's running out, as they say."
Ireland play Italy at home on Saturday, and look to have a play-off spot all but guaranteed. If they are able to defeat the Azzurri, they may even have a narrow chance of topping their qualifying group, should they beat Montenegro at home & Italy fail to beat Cyprus.
Ireland will face a daunting World Cup play-off clash against one of Europe's top teams after FIFA made a dramatic u-turn and confirmed they will use a seeding system for the European play-offs.
After a FIFA meeting in Rio de Janeiro last night, President Sepp Blatter confirmed: "We have decided on seeding the teams into two groups of four, taking the Fifa world rankings into account, with the top four in one pot and the others in another pot."
"There will be a separate draw to decide home and away," he added of the two-leg ties to determine four European places at the 2010 finals in South Africa.
FIFA originally planned to host an open draw for the eight best runners-up in the nine European groups, but with the likes of Germany, France and Portugal all in danger of securing a play-off spot, at best, FIFA have decided to employ a seeding system.
That would certainly leave Giovanni Trapattoni's men, currently ranked 38th, in the second tier should they secure second spot in Group 8, with Russia, Croatia, Greece and Serbia also potential opponents this November.
Irish fans would have been hoping for a kind draw against the likes of Slovenia, Bosnia or Slovakia, but that possibility now seems unlikely if FIFA stick to their guns.
It is believed the prospect of a World Cup tournament without commercial heavyweights Germany prompted the u-turn. However, FAI Chief Executive John Delaney remains optimistic about Ireland's chances in spite of the revised seeding system.
Speaking in today's Irish Daily Mail, Delaney insisted: "I'm not too sure where that [seeded draw] will place us but we've got concentrate first on what we've got to do.
"We've got to try and beat Italy and take it to the last game. And if we end up in the play-offs, we'd have been delighted to have got to the play-offs at the start of the group and we'll take what we get."
He added: "All I will say is that and team who finishes second mustn't have been top team in their group, obviously. So it gives you a chance."
The injury worries are mounting for Giovanni Trapattoni ahead of Ireland's October World Cup qualifiers against Italy and Montenegro.
Fulham have confirmed that Damien Duff will be out of action for two to three weeks after picking up a calf injury in last weekends defeat to Arsenal at Craven Cottage.
This is likely to ensure that Duff will miss the Ireland v Italy game on October the 10th, however the hope is that Duff may recover in time for the second of the World Cup qualifiers against Montenegro on Wednesday 14 October.
Meanwhile Hull City's Calab Folan has also emerged as a serious doubt for the crucial Group 8 games. The striker, currently on-loan at Middlesbrough, tore his hamstring at training and could be sidelined for up to six weeks.
Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has announced a provisional 27 man squad for the upcoming World Cup group 8 qualifiers against Italy & Montenegro in Croke Park next month.
Goalkeepers
Shay Given, Manchester City
Keiren Westwood, Coventry City
Joe Murphy, Scunthorpe United
Defenders
John O'Shea, Manchester United
Kevin Foley, Wolves
Richard Dunne, Aston Villa
Stephen Kelly, Fulham
Kevin Kilbane, Hull City
Eddie Nolan, Preston North End
Sean St. Ledger, Middlesbrough
Paul McShane, Hull City
Darren O’Dea, Reading
Midfielders
Aiden McGeady, Celtic
Damien Duff, Fulham
Darron Gibson, Manchester United
Glenn Whelan, Stoke City
Keith Andrews, Blackburn Rovers
Liam Miller, Hibernian
Stephen Hunt, Hull City
Andy Keogh, Wolves
Steven Reid, Blackburn Rovers
Liam Lawrence, Stoke City
Forwards
Caleb Folan, Middlesbrough
Kevin Doyle, Wolves
Robbie Keane, Tottenham Hotspur
Shane Long, Reading
Leon Best, Coventry City
Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has agreed a two-year extension to his current contract with the FAI.
Speculation had been rife that a new deal was near completion, and it is now understood that the Italian has signed a two-year extension to his current deal, which was due at the end of the present campaign.Welcoming the new contract, FAI chief executive John Delaney said 'We are very happy to agree a contract extension with Giovanni Trapattoni. The players and everyone on the FAI Board of Management have been tremendously impressed by the professionalism, dedication and commitment of Giovanni Trapattoni and his team.
Trapattoni revealed: 'I am delighted to continue my job with the FAI. This squad has huge potential. Our results demonstrate what self belief and structure can achieve and I am really looking forward to continuing the work we have begun.'
Leon Best has been dusting off his old World Cup videos as inspiration for Ireland’s final push for South Africa 2010.
The Coventry City striker’s heroes include, not surprisingly, the likes of Brazil’s Ronaldo whose majestic presence in previous competitions provided the stuff that boyhood dreams are made of.
But that dream is just two games away from becoming a reality for the Sky Blues’ centre-forward who was called up for his country for the first time in June and has been on a high ever since.
Seemingly a firm part of Irish boss Giovani Trapattoni’s plans for the future, Best is playing some of the best football of his young career at the moment, clearly having taken a huge injection of confidence from his international progress.
His most recent run-out came in a friendly against next summer’s competition host nation, South Africa, following up his first cap against Bulgaria.
“It was a great experience and a good win,” said the in-form front man who celebrated his 23rd birthday recently.
“I enjoyed it out there and it is always great to be involved with the squad. I hope to be involved in every single squad and game now. Definitely. I get such a buzz playing in the stadiums and in front of the Irish fans and with the likes of Robbie Keane and John O’Shea.
‘‘I could only dream about it before and now it is happening for me and I need to grasp every chance.
“I thought I gave a good account of myself against South Africa and I was just disappointed that I didn’t get a goal, which is always a good feeling when you go on as a sub against a good team.
‘‘The possession was all South Africa but they didn’t have a shot which goes to show how we did against them. And we can win games. I went on with Caleb Folan up front, which was easy because he is a great target man and that’s different for me because then I am not the one always flicking it. I have to spin off him which I enjoy because I get more chances.
‘‘Hopefully it will help my game because I am playing a different way, so if Coventry ever sign a Dion Dublin again I’ll be running off him rather than being the target man for a change.”
Looking ahead to next month’s crunch qualifiers, he said: “We have got a big game against Italy coming up in October, so hopefully I will be involved in that.
‘‘We have got two more and both are at home, so hopefully we can win those and get to South Africa. The other game is against Montenegro.
“It would be a great achievement getting to the World Cup because it’s the sort of thing you only ever dream of.
‘‘I have got videos at my house of past World Cups so to think that I could be involved in it would be a dream come true.
‘‘I used to watch people like Ronaldo and Romario for Brazil when I was younger so it would be amazing to go to the finals.”
For the time being, however, he wants to keep his form and fitness, and the goals coming for Coventry.
He had scored three in City’s first seven prior to yesterday’s trip to Preston – his best start to a season at the Ricoh Arena.
Enjoying his partnership with Clinton Morrison, who got his fourth of the season in Tuesday night’s gutsy 3-2 victory over Sheffield United, Best said: “We have got a good little competition going and the great thing is that we are both getting some goals at the moment.
“This is my best ever start because in previous years I have always ended up injured just before the season starts or early on in the campaign and that has set me back.
‘‘But I am feeling fit at the minute and just want to keep doing well for my club and see where that gets me with my country.”
Ireland Under-17 manager Sean McCaffrey has today named an 18 man squad for the Under-17 UEFA qualifying first phase qualifiers in Bulgaria later this month.
Ireland will play against the host nation Bulgaria, Latvia and Sweden with the aim of securing a top-two finish in the group to progress into the Elite section of the qualifying series.
Ireland Under-17 Squad
Sean McDermott - Arsenal
Jack Bonham - Watford
Ben Glasgow - Arsenal
Michael Barker - Belvedere
Richard Bryan - Aston Villa
Derrick Williams - Aston Villa
Neil Yadolahi - St. Kevin's Boys
Sean McGinty - Manchester United
Brian McGroary - Wolverhampton Wanderers
Shane Byrne - Leicester City
Carl McHugh - Reading
Frankie Sutherland - QPR
Callum Webb - Arsenal
Anton Rodgers - Chelsea
Kevin Knight - Leicester City
George Smith - Southend United
Daniel Purdy - West Ham United
Aiden O'Brien - Millwall.
Ireland central midfielder Glenn Whelan has signed a new four-year contract with Stoke City.
The Dublin born player joined the Potters in January 2008 from Sheffield Wednesday for £500,000.
"I'm obviously delighted, once we got it all sorted, it was just a case of getting it signed and I'm really happy."
The 25-year-old, who has won 10 caps for Ireland, has made 50 appearances for the Potters.
"Talks have been going on for a while, but with the transfer window going on I think they were more concerned with bringing new players in and then they would deal with me afterwards, but I'm happy it's all done now."
The former Manchester City trainee helped Stoke win promotion from the Championship in 2007/08, but found it difficult to hold down a regular first-team place in their first season in the top flight.
However, a last-minute equaliser in a 2-2 draw at Aston Villa in March brought him back into manager Tony Pulis' plans, and he is now a regular in the starting line-up.
Whelan has also played an important role for Trapattoni's Ireland as they continue their campaign to book a place in next years World Cup finals in South Africa.
"I've been working very hard in the last 12 months to get into the team and I think the reward of a new contract has come from that," added Whelan
Former Ireland boss Brian Kerr has again criticised Current Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni over his stewardship of the national side. Kerr said Trapattoni’s idea of watching players club games on DVD was a “load of baloney”. He added that for the Italian to attend ‘a dinner here and there’ displayed little regard for the well-being of Irish football in general.
Speaking to Brendan Crossan in today’s Irish News Kerr said “I don’t think Trapattoni does himself any favours by not going to watch players playing, I genuinely think the manager has a duty to be interested in the well-being of the overall game instead of going to the odd dinner here and there.”
He continued “I don’t think Trapattoni has any interest in the development of Irish football, but that’s up to him and he probably took the job on those terms. Maybe other people don’t share that view. He picks a team for a match and that’s it.”
On the issue of Liam Brady & Marco Tardelli covering most of the scouting needs in Britain and sending DVD’s of games to Trapattoni, Kerr said “ I think it’s a load of baloney because you can’t see the players properly in terms of what they do, or where they move to in a game. I don’t care what age you are or how much experience you have, you need to see the players by attending games.”
“Other people’s opinions are not the same as yours because you have in your own mind what you’re looking for. But look, they’re doing fine and I’d let them at it..”
And speaking about Ireland’s chances of reaching next years World Cup finals in South Africa Kerr commented “It looks now that they’ve a good chance of beating some of the other play-off teams, but you wouldn’t want to be playing France or Portugal”
“To some degree, Irish people will put up with anything as long as they get to the World Cup finals. The media are more critical…The reality is we have an exaggerated view of our players because they’re playing in English football and are on our television screens”
A great free-kick by man of the match Liam Lawrence gave Ireland victory over South Africa in Limerick tonight.
Stoke City midfielder Lawrence set a curling and dipping 37th-minute strike beyond the dive of South Africa goalkeeper Fernandez.
Speaking after the game Lawrence said he was "absolutely delighted" to score and said "everyone had given a good account of themselves"
The decisive goal came against the run of play as South Africa had created a lot of early pressure.
However, Ireland should have doubled their lead in the second half but sub Leon Best's shot was well saved.
Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni had made a string of changes for the low-key Limerick friendly.
Only Kevin Doyle, Keith Andrews and Sean St Ledger remained from the side which beat Cyprus 2-1 in Saturday's World Cup eight qualifier in Nicosia.
Ireland captain Kevin Doyle said "it was a good win in difficult conditions and so many fresh faces, we had the better chances and worked hard for the win"
John O'Shea is out of Ireland's team to face South Africa in a friendly in Limerick this evening.
The defender has returned to Manchester United to have scans on a calf problem.
Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni said the 28-year-old had been sent back to his club in an effort to prevent the damage from getting any worse.
O'Shea joins Shay Given, Richard Dunne, Robbie Keane, Kevin Kilbane and Stephen Hunt in the list of absentees for the match at Thomond Park in Limerick.
Manager Trapattoni had allowed Given, Dunne, Keane and Kilbane to return to their clubs.
Hunt misses the friendly at Thomond Park because of personal reasons.
Celtic defender Darren O'Dea, who is currently on loan at Reading, has been called up to the squad.
Robbie Keane was Ireland's hero once again as he snatched victory in Cyprus to keep our World Cup dream very much alive.
Keano glanced home Damien Duff's 83rd-minute cross to claim his 40th senior international goal and three precious points, just as it looked as thought Ireland would have to settle for a fourth successive draw during the qualifying campaign.
Keane's winner came as news of victories for Group Eight leaders Italy and third-placed Bulgaria filtered through, and will send Ireland into their remaining games, against Italy and Montenegro at Croke Park next month - knowing second place is there for the taking, and top spot is not beyond possibility.
Ireland have played a game more than both the reigning world champions and the Bulgarians, but remain just a point adrift of the Italians and five ahead of Bulgaria.
Trapattoni's men were in front within five minutes when Kevin Doyle fired home a fifth-minute opener, but Marios Elia levelled after 30 minutes after Shay Given had pulled off a great save to deny Ioannis Okkas.
Ireland had chances to win the game before Keane did just that - goalkeeper Sofronis Avgousti denied Glenn Whelan with a superb 50th-minute stop - but they were made to work hard for a win which had the travelling fans inside the GSP Stadium dreaming of South Africa as they departed.
Ireland could hardly have got off to a better start as they forced Cyprus on to the back foot, just at they had done at Croke Park in October last year.
Full-back Avraam had little option but to concede a fifth-minute corner as Doyle closed on Duff's cross, and the visitors took full advantage.
John O'Shea met Stephen Hunt's cross beyond the far post and headed it back into the mix, and after Keith Andrews' shot had been blocked, Doyle turned and smashed the loose ball past Avgousti.
It was dangerman Aloneftis who had provided Okkas with his chance, and while he was kept quiet for much of the first half by O'Shea and Hunt, when he did get himself into the game down the left, Cyprus looked dangerous.
The equaliser arrived from that flank with half an hour gone when, after Dunne had dispossessed Okkas inside the penalty area and Sean St Ledger had blocked Avraam's shot, Elia made no mistake to lash the ball into the bottom far corner.
Ireland's response was swift and concerted, and they might have regained the lead had Andrews' 36th-minute effort from distance been a foot closer to Avgousti's right post or had Kevin Kilbane been able to keep his header a fraction lower seconds later.
Charalambides headed over at the other end five minutes before the break, but Trapattoni's men left the pitch at half-time knowing the game was very much there for the three points.
Just as they had done in the first half, Ireland started strongly in the second, and might have been back in front twice within the opening five minutes.
First Hunt headed a Duff cross into the side-netting from an acute angle, and then Whelan forced Avgousti into a top-class save with 50 minutes gone.
Keane's knock-down from Doyle's cross fell perfectly for the Stoke midfielder, who struck it first-time towards the top corner, only for the goalkeeper just to get his fingertips to it.
There was an anxious moment for the visitors, however, with 61 minutes gone when Okkas looked to have got marginally the better of Dunne as the pair raced into the box shoulder to shoulder and the striker ended up on the floor.
But Austrian referee Thomas Einwaller was not impressed, much to the annoyance of the locals.
But it was left to Keane to do what he has done so often in the past, beating Avgousti to Duff's 83rd-minute cross to glance a header home and send the 'Green Army' home in expectant mood for the remaining two home games in October. 
