Horgan and Boyle Named in Ireland Squad to Face Austria

Dundalk’s Daryl Horgan and Andy Boyle have been named in Martin O’Neill’s provisional 35-man Ireland squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifier with Austria.

The pair follow in the footsteps of club colleague Gary Rogers who was on the bench during Ireland’s 2-2 draw with Serbia in September.

The announcement means that the duo now have a chance to be the first League of Ireland players to play in a competitive international for the Republic of Ireland since November, 1985.

Former Shamrock Rovers captain Pat Byrne was the last player from the Irish domestic game to receive a competitive cap when he appeared in a 4-1 defeat to Denmark in Copenhagen.

Ireland boss Martin O’Neill told reporters at today’s announcement: “I’ve been impressed by the way Dundalk play with quite a number of them doing well.

“All players that have been called up deserve to be.”

Horgan had been tipped for a call-up to recent squads, but O’Neill rejected the idea, instead feeling that he should concentrate on Dundalk’s hectic fixture schedule.

Elsewhere in the squad, there is no place for Southampton striker Shane Long. The Tipperary native misses out through injury with Jonathan Walters, Daryl Murphy, David McGoldrick and Kevin Doyle named in the striking department.

In all, nine former League of Ireland players are named with skipper Seamus Coleman, Wes Hoolahan and James McClean among those to join Horgan and Boyle in the squad.

The Boys in Green take on Austria on November 12^th  at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion in a crucial Group D encounter which could see O’Neill’s men move six-points clear of the Austrians in the race to Russia 2018.

Republic of Ireland Provisional Squad

Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph (West Ham United), Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday), Colin Doyle (Bradford City), Ian Lawlor (Manchester City), Danny Rogers (Falkirk)

Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Cyrus Christie, Richard Keogh, Alex Pearce (Derby County), John O'Shea (Sunderland), Ciaran Clark (Newcastle United), Paul McShane (Reading), Shane Duffy (Brighton & Hove Albion), Andy Boyle (Dundalk), Stephen Ward (Burnley)

Midfielders: Aiden McGeady (Preston North End), James McClean (West Bromwich Albion), Jeff Hendrick (Burnley), James McCarthy (Everton), Stephen Quinn (Reading), Glenn Whelan (Stoke City), Harry Arter (Bournemouth), Eunan O'Kane (Leeds United), David Meyler (Hull City), Stephen Gleeson (Birmingham City), Conor Hourihane (Barnsley), Robbie Brady, Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City), Callum O'Dowda (Bristol City), Jonathan Hayes (Aberdeen), Daryl Horgan (Dundalk)

Forwards: Jonathan Walters (Stoke City), Adam Rooney (Aberdeen), Kevin Doyle (Colorado Rapids), David McGoldrick (Ipswich Town)