World Cup qual. - Quintet added to Irish party

Eurosport - Fri, 10 Oct 15:54:00 2008

Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni has called up five more players ahead of Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Cyprus.

2008 Republic of Ireland Giovanni Trapattoni - 0

Caleb Folan, Kevin Foley, Anthony Stokes, Keith Andrews and Darron Gibson have all been elevated to the senior squad after starting in Thursday night's 2-0 victory for a representative XI over Nottingham Forest at Dalymount Park.

Uncapped Hull striker Folan scored his side's first goal, with Andy Keogh adding the second.

Blackburn midfielder Andrews and Wolves defender Foley have yet to play a competitive senior international, while Sunderland striker Stokes has three caps and Manchester United midfielder Gibson two.

Trapattoni initially named a 21-man squad that did not include injured trio Steve Finnan, Stephen Kelly and Steven Reid.

The Italian will look to maintain his unbeaten record, which now stretches to five competitive games, against Cyprus, who two years ago blew a huge hole in Ireland's chances of qualifying for the finals of Euro 2008 with a 5-2 victory in Nicosia.

Ireland started their Group Eight campaign in positive fashion with a 2-1 win over Georgia in Germany, and then a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Montenegro in Podgorica.

But they will hope their form at Croke Park, where they face the Cypriots, will provide a firm foundation for their attempt to make South Africa 2010.

The squad is due to meet up on Saturday ahead of the first full training session at Gannon Park in Malahide.

Republic of Ireland squad:

Goalkeepers: Shay Given (Newcastle), Dean Kiely (West Brom), Joe Murphy (Scunthorpe),

Defenders: Kevin Foley (Wolves), Alex Bruce (Ipswich), Damien Delaney (QPR), Richard Dunne (Manchester City), Kevin Kilbane (Wigan), Joey O'Brien (Bolton), John O'Shea (Manchester United), Paul McShane (Sunderland)

Midfielders: Stephen Hunt (Reading), Aiden McGeady (Celtic), Damien Duff (Newcastle), Liam Miller (Sunderland), Andy Reid (Sunderland), Glenn Whelan (Stoke), Keith Andrews (Blackburn), Darron Gibson (Manchester United)

Forwards: Kevin Doyle (Reading), Robbie Keane (Liverpool), Andy Keogh (Wolves), Shane Long (Reading), Daryl Murphy (Sunderland), Caleb Folan (Hull), Anthony Stokes (Sunderland).

Sporting Life / Eurosport

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  1. Ireland have gone to f*** i've lost all hope in them. Can't even watch them play anymore it's too frustrating. I end up hitting my wife

    From Noel O, on Sat 11 Oct 4:46AM
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