By Ade O'Connor
March 24 2003

Promising 23 year-old Barry Quinn, of Sheffield Wednesday has been called into the Ireland squad for the two important qualifying games, against Georgia and Albania. The Republic of Ireland must win these fixtures to maintain their chance of making the European Championships in Portugal. The midfielder had been unlucky to miss out on the initial squad, after impressing in a struggling first division outfit. The starlet will attempt to impress Brian Kerr as he looks to build upon Ireland’s next generation.

The Republic will be rocked by the news that they lose promising goal scorer Clinton Morrison from the squad, after dislocating a shoulder. The Birmingham City hotshot may have found himself in line for a starting place.

Also forced to exit the squad through injury are Sunderland right sided man Jason McAteer and Leeds’ Gary Kelly. The experienced pair, who has 100 caps between them, will be sorely missed in the challenging fixtures ahead for the Irish.

Further injury doubts fall with John O`Shea, who has been making a serious impression at Old Trafford. The versatile defender has been earning rave reviews from Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson. A rib injury may rule O`Shea out, while Steve Finnan is struggling with a hamstring problem.

Both players will travel to Georgia to face a late fitness test.

Wolves’ midfielder Mark Kennedy was forced to turn down his recall to the squad after aggravating a hamstring issue, which has held back the left-winger’s career.

Republic of Ireland manager, Brian Kerr, can however be heartened by the impressive return of Tottenham striker Robbie Keane. Who featured in Monday night’s game against Bolton Wanderers.

The Ireland squad to face Georgia and Albania now stands as follows:

Goalkeepers:

Given (Newcastle),
Kiely (Charlton)
Colgan (Hibernian)

Defenders:

Carr (Tottenham)
Finnan (Fulham)
Harte (Leeds)
Cunningham (Birmingham)
Breen (West Ham)
O'Brien (Newcastle)
O'Shea (Manchester United)

Midfielders:

Reid (Millwall)
Quinn (Sheffield Wednesday)
Kinsella (Aston Villa)
Holland (Ipswich)
Carsley (Everton)
Healy (Celtic)
Kilbane (Sunderland)

Strikers:

Duff (Blackburn)
Keane (Tottenham)
Connolly (Wimbledon)
Doherty (Tottenham)