Trap Dumps Reid From Squad

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Irish Voice Sport

Trap Dumps Reid From Squad

November 12, 2008

Sports Digest by Cathal Dervan

GIOVANNI Trapattoni has sent Andy Reid into international exile and caused consternation with the decision. Reid has been left out of Trap’s squad for next week’s game against Poland, and also missing are Joey O’Brien, Lee Carsley, Cillian Sheridan, James McCarthy and Noel Hunt.

Pundit Eamon Dunphy has slammed Trap for leaving Reid out after the pair had a row in Germany over Reid’s continued absence from the side.

Dunphy has even claimed that Trapattoni’s position is untenable if the decision is based on a clash of personalities.

Trapattoni has yet to comment on the decision to omit Reid in a 23-man squad that does include Keith Andrews, Darron Gibson and Anthony Stokes.

The Ireland squad to play Poland is:

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

Defenders: Paul McShane (Hull City), John O’Shea (Manchester United), Richard Dunne (Manchester City), Kevin Kilbane (Wigan Athletic), Alex Bruce (Ipswich Town), Damien Delaney (QPR), Kevin Foley (Wolves).

Midfielders: Aiden McGeady (Glasgow Celtic), Keith Andrews (Blackburn Rovers), Darron Gibson (Manchester United), Glenn Whelan (Stoke City), Damien Duff (Newcastle United)

Stephen Hunt (Reading), Liam Miller (Sunderland), Andy Keogh (Wolves).

Forwards: Robbie Keane (Liverpool), Kevin Doyle (Reading), Anthony Stokes (Sheffield United), Caleb Folan (Hull City), Shane Long (Reading).

Sheridan Shines

CELTIC striker Cillian Sheridan has failed to make the senior Ireland squad despite a useful performance when he played for the first 65 minutes of the Champions League draw with Manchester United last week.

The big Cavan youngster has taken his chance at Parkhead thanks to the club’s injury crisis and took heart from the game against United and their world-class defenders Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.

“Before the game one of the lads said I was playing against the two best defenders in the world and said to me, ‘You have nothing to lose, only good can come from it,” said Sheridan.

“If you do well then it will look even better because of how good the two of them are. I knew how good they were beforehand but that gave me confidence.

“That’s what you want, you want to play against the best in the world. It has been a bit of a step up, everything is at the top level. You have to be quicker and stronger on the ball.

“I didn’t think I would be playing this much but obviously injuries happen in football, as I know from last year, and you just have to take your chances when they come.”

Celtic’s injury problems worsened when Shaun Maloney picked up a muscle problem during Saturday’s 2-0 win over Motherwell at Parkhead.

He joins a lengthy injury list that also includes Jean-Joel Perrier Doumbe, Chris Killen, Georgios Samaras, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, Marc Crosas, Glenn Loovens, Aiden McGeady, Shunsuke Nakamura and Artur Boruc.

Polish ‘keeper Boruc underwent knee surgery on Monday and will miss his country’s friendly against Ireland next week.

The Bhoys bounced back from the disappointment of concerning a late equalizer to Manchester United in the Champions League with goals from Paul Hartley and Scott McDonald against ‘Well.

But boss Gordon Strachan was more concerned about his growing injury problems afterwards.

“We are up to a full team of injuries now but the rest of us will just get on with it,” said Strachan. “It’s not easy but they are sticking to their job and doing well.

“I was very pleased with them because it was a hard game. We will go again against Kilmarnock on Wednesday with the same guys.”

Keane Scores

ROBBIE Keane promised Liverpool fans there is more to come after breaking his Premier League duck for the club with a couple of goals in Saturday’s 3-0 win at home to West Brom.

“It’s nice, it’s been a while coming,” he told Setanta Sports. “I knew it was only a matter of time, I’m not one of these to get down about of things.

“I think you’ll see Robbie Keane hopefully back to his best. It’s been a bit stop-start for me but I feel like I’m getting better and better each game. I’m getting to know the players and I think you can see that today.

“It was very important to get the three points. There were a few good results for us today so it was important that we concentrated on what we did. It was a good performance and we could have had a few more.

“I can’t comment on the past because I haven’t been here. At the moment we have a lot of resilience, confidence is high even though we lost at Tottenham next week and it’s important that you bounce back.”

Keane insisted the long wait for his first league goal for Liverpool was never an issue with him even if others worried about it.

“If I was younger, more naïve then maybe,” he added. “As you get older and get more experienced you know it’s only a matter of time when it’s going to come. Lucky enough I got my goals today and hopefully there’s a lot more to come.”

Bet Scandal

ST. Patrick’s Athletic have suspended midfielder Gary Dempsey after he admitted placing a €20 bet on his team losing to Galway in a recent eircom League fixture.

Dempsey, who wasn’t involved in the match, has claimed that the bet was part of a losing double, but FAI bosses are set to discipline him as well.

In a statement Dempsey said, “I placed a €20 bet on my club to lose in a double on an occasion which I was not playing and in which I had no influence on the game.

“I have never before or since placed a bet on my team to lose a game. The bet was in fact unsuccessful as the other team involved were beaten.

“I’m not aware and have never been made aware of any regulations that prohibit me from placing a bet on a match that I was not involved in.

“As far as I’m concerned this incident has been blown out of proportion and I am of course prepared to meet with club officials to sort this matter out.

“I apologize if my actions have caused distress to my teammates or my club.”

Bohs Dispute

BOHEMIANS are to appeal against a court decision that prohibits them selling part of the land at Dalymount Park to a developer in a deal that included the provision of a new home ground for the club near Dublin Airport.

A High Court judge has ruled that the club does not have the right to sell the disputed portion of land at the shopping centre end of the ground.

The decision could have huge financial implications for the newly crowned eircom League champions.

Soccer Shorts

SUNDERLAND’S former Ireland midfielder Graham Kavanagh has seen his loan spell at Carlisle United extended by a further month . . .

DERRY City midfielder Niall McGinn has been named in the Northern Ireland squad for next week’s friendly against Hungary . . .

ASTON Villa’s Irish left back Stephen O’Halloran has made a loan move to Swansea City . . .

SHEFFIELD United’s Irish goalkeeper Paddy Kenny is set to agree a new deal at Bramall Lane . . .

IPSWICH Town are to complete a deal for Drogheda defender Graham Gartland . . .

IRISH striker Kevin Doyle has signed a new three-year contract with Reading . . .

TOTTENHAM are the latest club linked with Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given . . .

BLACKBURN’S Irish midfielder Steven Reid has undergone knee surgery.

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