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Football

16th Nov 2020

Two more League of Ireland players called up as net trawls wider

Niall McIntyre

Another day, another bunch of Ireland players bite the dust.

It’s gotten to the stage now where it almost feels as if Irish football and everything to do with it, is cursed – both on and off the field.

Off it, players have been falling by the wayside left, right and centre. Covid, injuries, suspensions, you name it – Stephen Kenny’s Ireland squad has been hit with a horrid dose of it.

On it meanwhile, we haven’t scored in six dispiriting games or 600 minutes if you like. Lean times indeed.

That would make it the longest goalless streak in Irish football history and thought the buck always stops with the manager, it would seem harsh to lay all the blame on Stephen Kenny, given that he’s been hamstrung the whole way through.

It didn’t get any better against Wales at the weekend and with Matt Doherty and James McClean ruled out for Wednesday’s Bulgaria clash due to Covid – Adam Idah, Jayson Molumby and Jeff Hendrick are also ruled out – our national team find themselves with a dearth of rescources once more.

It’s caused Kenny to trawl into the League of Ireland with Shamrock Rovers duo Graham Burke and Aaron McEneff coming into the squad as well as U-21 duo Troy Parrott and Jack Taylor.

Jeff Hendrick has been ruled out of the Bulgaria through suspension due to his red card against Wales. Jayson Molumby has also been suspended as he picked up his second yellow card of the UEFA Nations League campaign.

Forward Adam Idah has also been ruled out of the Bulgaria match through injury and has returned to his club.

Republic of Ireland squad

Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph (West Ham United), Caoimhín Kelleher (Liverpool), Mark Travers (AFC Bournemouth)
Defenders: Kevin Long (Burnley), Shane Duffy (Celtic), Dara O’Shea (West Bromwich Albion), Cyrus Christie (Nottingham Forest), Ciaran Clark (Newcastle United), Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers), Ryan Manning (Swansea City).
Midfielders: Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), Robbie Brady (Burnley), Jack Byrne (Shamrock Rovers), Jason Knight (Derby County), Josh Cullen (Anderlecht), Aaron McEneff (Shamrock Rovers), Jack Taylor (Peterborough United).
Attackers: James Collins (Luton Town), Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth), Callum O’Dowda (Bristol City), Daryl Horgan (Wycombe Wanderers), Sean Maguire (Preston North End), Graham Burke (Shamrock Rovers), Troy Parrott (Millwall, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur).

Topics:

FAI