Manager Martin O’Neill has announced an extended forty man Republic of Ireland squad for the upcoming friendly contests against Glasgow Celtic, France and the USA. With Cyrus Christie, Richard Keogh, Alex Pearce, Conor Hourihane, Scott Hogan, Glenn Whelan and Darren Randolph attached to clubs involved in the Championship play-offs, it was expected that some new names would appear in the preliminary squad and so it is with goalkeepers Ian Lawlor and Conor O’Malley together with U21 netminder Kieran O’Hara joined by midfielder Shaun Williams and strikers Graham Burke and Callum Robinson. The official paperwork relating to Robinson is not yet completed so he can only be available for the Scott Brown Testimonial against Glasgow Celtic.
John O’Shea yesterday confirmed his retirement from international football and he will skipper the side in his final appearance against the USA in the Aviva Stadium on Saturday the 2nd June.