Tottenham youngster David Hutton and Nottingham Forest's Brendan Moloney have become the latest players to withdrew from the Republic of Ireland under-19 team for this week's friendly double-header against Chile in Athlone.
Hutton and Moloney pulled out over the Bank Holiday weekend and were replaced in Sean McCaffrey's team by Wigan's Craig Mahon and Daniel Corcoran of St Patrick's Athletic.
The latest withdrawals take the number of absentees to five, following Christy Fagan of Man Utd and Villa pair Daniel Earls and Shane Lowry in taking leave from this week's friendlies.
Ireland meet Chile this evening (Tuesday) and Thursday, with both games taking place at the recently-opened Athlone Town Stadium in Lissywoollen.
Republic of Ireland under-19 team (revised, v Chile, August 7-9, 2007),
Goalkeepers, Shane Redmond (Nottingham Forest), Jimmy McKeown (Peterborough United).
Defenders, Lorcan Fitzgerald (The Hammers), Cian Hughton (Spurs), Mark O'Toole (Norwich City), Michael Liddle (Sunderland), Michael Spillane (Norwich City).
Midfielders, Harry Arter (Charlton Athletic), Gavin Donoghue (Sunderland), James Berrett (Huddersfield Town), David Hutton (Spurs), Ryan Carolan (Crystal Palace), Ruairi Harkin (Charlton Athletic), Noel Haverty (St. Patricks Athletic – on loan at Shelbourne).
Forwards, David Joyce (Birmingham City), Emeka Onwubiko (Bray Wanderers), Alan Lynch (Bohemians), Daniel Corcoran (St Patrick's Athletic), Craig Mahon (Wigan).
02 August 2007
Derry City central defender Darren Kelly has until the weekend to win a transfer to Kilmarnock.
The 28 year old was on trial with the Scottish Premier League club and will be assessed again Friday.
Killie manager Jim Jefferies informed BBC Sport, "We had a look at him Tuesday and asked him back Friday. We have not got to the stage of discussing a fee, however we must decide whether we would like him and will have given him a decision by the end of the week."
Kelly is in his 3rd spell with Derry, having also been on the books of Shelbourne, Monaghan United, Carlisle United, who bought him for £100,000 in 2002, and Portadown.
Derry manager John Robertson has already signed a direct replacement in anticipation of Kelly's latest departure.
Mark McChrystal has rejoined the Irish club after being released by Partick Thistle.
Jefferies views Kelly as a replacement for Gordon Greer, who left Kilmarnock for family reasons in the summer and joined Doncaster Rovers.
Family reasons have also led to Kelly's wish for a return to the UK mainland.
And that alerted Kilmarnock, Dundee United, Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Scottish Premier League newcomers Gretna to his availability.
Gretna were not prepared to pay the reported £50,000 fee being demanded by Derry.
Inverness dropped their interest as they could have preferred a loan deal.
Caley Thistle manager also decided against signing French trialist Giany Joinville as he seeks a replacement for Darren Dods, who moved to Dundee United in the summer.
The French central defender was on trial at Caledonian Stadium.
21 June 2007
Cardiff City have quashed reports linking Jason Byrne with a move away from Ninian Park.
Eircom League side St Patrick's are supposedly trying to tempt the forward back to Ireland.
But Cardiff they have received no contact from St Patrick's, and are not looking to sell the 28-yaer-old.
Byrne scored on his Bluebirds debut in January after joining from Irish champions Shelbourne, however failed to find the net in his 9 other games.
The Republic of Ireland international arrived at Ninian Park with a prolific scoring record having been the Eircom League's top scorer in 4 successive seasons.
He has a year left on his Ninian Park contract and has mentioned he would like to remain to prove himself after a disappointing 1st season.
