Under-21 European Championship: In the wake of Ireland's 2-1 defeat by France in the under-21 championships earlier this month manager Don Givens has made significant changes to his squad for the forthcoming games against Cyprus and Switzerland.
Paddy McCarthy, Kevin Doyle and Liam Kearney are amongst those to have been passed over at this stage but there are places for four Eircom League players - Darren Quigley and Gary Dicker (both UCD), Cork's Roy O'Donovan and Stephen Ward of Bohemians. Ward's place, however, may be in doubt after he picked up an injury in Drogheda on Friday night and could be missing for three weeks.
Burnley's Karl Bermingham is included in the squad as are Willo Flood, who has had a good month on loan at Coventry City, Aidan McGeady of Celtic and Liverpool's Darren Potter.
Ireland play Cyprus in Larnaca on Saturday, October 7th, at 2pm (Irish Time) while their final game against Switzerland will take place in Tolka Park on Tuesday 11th October at 7.45pm.
A limited number of complimentary tickets for the game against Switzerland for schools and schoolboy/girl clubs will be available directly from the FAI by contacting Aisling Fennin at aisling.fennin-at-fai.ie or 01 7037500.
IRELAND (Under-21 squad): Henderson (Brighton), Quigle (UCD), Foley (Luton Town), Fitzgerald (Bury), McShane (Brighton), McStay (Portadown), Sheehan (Leicester City) Painter (Birmingham City), Flood (Coventry City), Potter (Liverpool), O'Brien (Bolton Wanderers), Dicker (UCD), Whelan (Sheffield Wednesday), McGeady (Celtic), O'Donovan (Cork City), Bermingham (Burnley), Tabb (Brentford), Ward (Bohemians).
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