Givens picks strong squad

Republic of Ireland under-21 manager Don Givens yesterday named his 18-man squad for the European Championship qualifiers against Cyprus and Switzerland.

The side extended its unbeaten run to 12 games on Tuesday night in Drogheda where they beat Bulgaria 3-2 and Givens is hoping that his players can build on that form and make early headway in their attempt to reach a European finals by securing victories in Kilkenny and Berne.

"We're optimistic about qualification," he said yesterday. "We've shown over the past year what can be achieved. There are goals coming from all over the place and we are well capable of grinding out a result when it's needed."

The Irish finished their last campaign with 2-0 defeats of both Russia and Switzerland. The performance away to the Swiss in two weeks' time will be a major factor in their fortunes this time around. Givens, though, is happy with the group of players that he has to call on ahead of the games with the likes of Aidan McGeady, Stephen Kelly and Stephen Elliott having impressed on previous appearances for the team.

"It was obviously a very good performance," said Givens of McGeady's debut on Tuesday. "Aidan's style of play means he's always going to stand out and I was delighted with the way he played . . . I'm looking for more performances like that."

Kevin Doyle and Liam Kearney of Cork City, as well as Daryl Murphy of Waterford United, are also included in the panel, as are prominent youth internationals of the recent past Seán Thornton, Willo Flood and Stephen Capper.

The Irish are competing with next month's opponents as well as favourites France and Israel for one of the two play-off places.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SQUAD: Henderson (Notts County), Murphy (Swansea City), McCarthy (Manchester City), Fitzgerald (Blackburn Rovers), McStay (Leeds United), McGeady (Celtic), Potter (Liverpool), Whelan (Sheffield Wednesday), Flood (Manchester City), Thornton (Sunderland), Elliott (Sunderland), Doyle (Cork City), Kearney (Cork City), Tabb (Brentford), Kelly (Tottenham Hotspur), Foley (Luton Town), Capper (Scarborough), Murphy (Waterford United).