Preparations stepping up for O'Neill's Men in Fota Island Training Camp

As part of the preparations for the June international fixtures, the three day training camp for the Ireland squad is getting underway in Fota Island this week.

There are 19 players down at the impressive facility in Cork, largely consisting of players from the English Championship.  

Among those who are gathering in Fota includ Shane Duffy, Daryl Horgan and Wes Hoolahan.

With the Championship season finished since May 16th last, Irish boss Martin O'Neill is keen for the players who were involved in clubs in that division to keep their fitness levels ticking over, ahead of what is a crucial few weeks, concluding with a massive World Cup Qualifier with Austria in the Aviva Stadium, on June 11th.

The players from clubs in the English Premier League will not join up with the squad until next Monday. But there was a Premier League debutant from over the weekend in England's top flight in Leeside on Tuesday

18 year old Declan Rice made his Premier League debut this past Sunday for West Ham, with the defender coming on as a substitute against Burnley.

Rice is just one of a number of new faces in the Ireland senior setup, as are Preston North End's Alan Browne and Burnley's Kevin Long who are also training down in Fota Island this week. 

The League of Ireland will have representation at the training camp, as Martin O'Neill has drafted in Cork City goalkeepers Mark McNulty and Alan Smith to join in for the sessions.

Both will return in advance of the City's SSE Airtricity League Premier Division clash with Shamrock Rovers in Turners Cross on Friday night.

The group will break up on Thursday evening, before O'Neill announces a revised squad which will then assemble in Dublin on Sunday, before departing for the United States on Monday ahead of a friendly with Mexico later in the week.

The Mexico friendly will be a chance for O'Neill to mull over potential options ahead of the Austria qualifier and a number of players will be hoping to catch the eye of him and assistant Roy Keane.

Republic of Ireland Training Squad
Goalkeepers: Mark McNulty, Alan Smith (Cork City)

Defenders: Cyrus Christie, Alex Pearce, Richard Keogh (Derby County), Shane Duffy (Brighton & Hove Albion), Andy Boyle (Preston North End), Kevin Long (Burnley) Declan Rice (West Ham United), John Egan (Brentford)

Midfielders: Eunan O'Kane (Leeds United), Alan Browne, Daryl Horgan (Preston North End), Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City), Stephen Gleeson (Birmingham City), Callum O'Dowda (Bristol City)

Forwards: David McGoldrick (Ipswich Town), Daryl Murphy (Newcastle United)