Irish boss Giovanni Trapattoni has called Everton defender Shane Duffy into the Ireland squad for this month's international friendly against Czech Republic at Lansdowne Road.
The 20-year-old Derry born defender will replace Richard Dunne in the 24-man squad after the Villa defender learned he will sidelined for eight weeks with a fractured clavicle suffered during Villa's 1-0 defeat to Manchester City yesterday afternoon.

James McClean's Ireland international career has been given the green light by FIFA.
The move clears the way for the Derryman to be included in the Ireland squad to be announced by Giovanni Trapattoni tomorrow for the upcoming friendly against the Czech Republic In Lansdowne Road on February 29th.

Shannon Smyth (Mequon/Milwaukee DSHA) was named to the Republic of Ireland squad for the Algarve Cup in Portugal.

The 24-year-old Smyth, who will start her second season with Amazon Grimstad FK in Norway's Toppserien in April, has six career caps. She has dual citizenship because her father, Brendan, was born and raised in Ireland.

Despite the recent bold pronouncements by new NI boss Michael O'Neill regarding his intention to stop players from the North opting to play for Ireland rather than his IFA team, it would seem, going by player statements in the past week, that his misguided mission is likely to continue falling on deaf-ears with players and supporters alike.

Seamus Coleman is one of a number of young Irish internationals focused on making the Ireland squad for the Euro 2012 finals in Poland next summer, but all must convince Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni to include them on the European adventure.
The Everton defender is one of a number of players fighting to make Trap's final 23 man squad for the Group C games against Croatia, Spain and Italy.

Demba Ba has scored 8 goals in the last five games, but his strike partner Leon Best is going through a dry spell, so to speak, and hasn't scored any goals in that same period. Leon Best - scoring against Fulham Leon did receive a well deserved call-up to the Ireland squad late last week, for their important Euro 2012 play-off games against Estonia.

Leon Best has finally been called up by Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni, for the vital Euro 2012 play-off games against Estonia. Leon Best Alan Pardew been a big help Leon has not been in the Ireland squad for a while, and the Italian manager has recently said he just doesn't work hard enough during [.

Giovanni Trapattoni has included Shane Long in his 26-man Ireland squad to face Estonia in the Euro 2012 play-offs next month.
West Brom ruled Long out for 'up to six weeks' after he was injured by Alan Hutton's two-footed lunge during the first half of their 2-1 Premier League win at Villa Park.

Irish boss Giovanni Trapattoni says winger Aiden McGeady is "100 per cent" and ready to play in the Euro 2012 qualifiers against Slovakia and Russia. The Spartak midfielder played three minutes of the Moscow derby on Sunday after missing much of the summer with an ankle injury sustained on June 10th, but met up with the Ireland squad at the first opportunity this morning and trained in Malahide.

*I'm guessing Robbie Keane will head to Ireland directly after Sunday's game in New York.

The tough part will be traveling back from Russia for the home game against the Colorado Rapids Friday, Sept. 9.

Keane has described these games as "massive" and reiterated he's "100 percent committed to Ireland - when he's not with the Galaxy:

DUBLIN (AP) -- Captain Robbie Keane has retained his place in the Ireland squad for next month's 2012 European Championship qualifiers despite moving to the Galaxy.

Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has announced a provisional 32 man squad to face Slovakia and Russia in September's crucial Euro qualifiers.
Kevin Doyle is his biggest concern, having departed the squad on Tuesday with a recurrence of a knee ligament injury suffered in the 2-1 win over Macedonia in March.

Giovanni Trapattoni has named his 32 man Ireland squad for the international friendly against Croatia on August 10th. The squad includes Darron Gibson, Marc Wilson, James McCarthy and Mark Walters, who all missed the end of season Carling Cup games in June due to injury.
Goalkeepers
Shay Given
Keiren Westwood
David Forde
Defence
John O'Shea
Paul McShane
Kevin Foley
Seamus Coleman
Stephen Kelly
Stephen Ward
Richard Dunne
Sean St.

Robbie Keane fulfilled Niall Quinn's prediction when he completed a half-century of international goals in Macedonia yesterday.
The 30-year-old Ireland skipper struck for the 50th time for his country after just eight minutes and then added a second with 37 minutes played at the Philip II Stadium in Skopje to ease his side to a vital Euro 2012 victory and exorcise the ghosts of their previous two visits.

The first 2 days have been not only beautiful but produced some great soccer action for the lady warriors. The first match pitted Sodium against the always solid Ireland squad. Midway through the second half Irelands talented Jill Farley drew first with a strike to make it 1-0. Moments later Sodium answered the challenge with Dani finding the net to even the match for the duration.

Just Football: SPL 2010-11 Team of the Season is a post from: Just Football

by William Heaney

With the Scottish Premier League 2010-11 season now over, it's time to have a look back at the players who have made their mark during the campaign. When selecting a team of the year it's hard to avoid Celtic and Rangers, but thankfully there are those from outside the big two who have done enough to earn their place.

Ireland international Seamus Coleman has been speaking about his delight at being shortlisted for the Premiership PFA Young Player of the Year award.
The Killybegs born player has flourished during the season for Everton and has become an integral part of David Moyes starting eleven.

Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has confirmed that James McCarthy will play for Ireland against Macedonia in Saturday evening's Euro 2012 qualifying match.
McCarthy, who is still eligible to declare for either Ireland or Scotland trained with the rest of the Ireland squad this morning in Malahide.

Record Irish goalscorer Robbie Keane is a doubt for Ireland's Euro 2012 qualifier against Macedonia on March 26th, as he recovers from a calf injury.
Keane's participation in the Ireland squad is ‘touch and go' as it is estimated that the crucial qualifier may come a week before Keane gets the all clear to resume playing.

The 9th of February is a FIFA scheduled interlull and we have quite a number of players called up to their senior national teams:

Firstly, Darrent Bent, Gabby Agbonlahor, Ashley Young, Stewart Downing and Kyle Walker were called up to the England squad travelling to Copenhagen to play Denmark.

Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has confirmed his 22-man squad for the Carling Nations Cup opener against Wales at the Aviva Stadium next Tuesday, February 8.
James McCarthy has been added to the senior squad and alongside the inclusion of Wilson, Coleman and Clarke makes for a very exciting blend of young Premiership talent and more experienced campaigners like Keane, Duff, Dunne and Given.

Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has named his squad for the Carling Nations Cup opening game against Wales which takes place in Aviva stadium on Tuesday February 8.
Included in the squad is Ciarán Clark who will report for duty for the first time having been ruled out of the Norway friendly due to injury.

Irish international Marc Wilson believes he is ready to try and gate-crash Stoke's central midfield between now and the end of the season.
But he admits the successful Rory Delap/Dean Whitehead combination may remain a tough nut to crack.
That pair recently enjoyed eight successive Premier League games on the trot, but an enforced reshuffle at Manchester United and an FA Cup tie against Cardiff has left Wilson starting the last two games to much acclaim.