Duffy and O'Kane travel with Ireland squad to America despite minor car crash

Shane Duffy and Eunan O'Kane will fly to the United States of America with the rest of the Ireland squad, which departs from Dublin on Monday, despite being involved in a minor car crash on Monday.

 

The Football Association of Ireland confirmed that the Brighton defender and Leeds United midfielder were caught up in a "minor car crash en route to the Republic of Ireland training camp."

 

Neither player was injured in the incident and both continued to the team hotel where they linked up with the rest of the squad ahead of Thursday's friendly against Mexico on Thursday night.

 

 

The Cork pair of Alan Browne and Kevin Long are in line for their Ireland senior debuts, after both were included. Ireland assistant boss Roy Keane spoke about Browne and Long on Thursday at Fota Island, urging both to make the most of their opportunity to impress.

 



Browne played 35 times in for Preston North End the English Championship for Preston North End during the season just finished, as the club secured a top-half league finish for the second year in a row.

 

His fellow countrymen at Preston, Andy Boyle and Daryl Horgan, will make the trip to America. Two other Corkmen who made their debuts in the friendly against Iceland, Conor Hourihane of Aston Villa and John Egan of Brentford, are both also included.

 

Burnley defender Long will look to cap off a good few months with an Irish cap, after making his first Premier League start for Sean Dyche's men against West Bromwich Albion earlier this month.

 



James McClean returns following a holiday in Dubai to join up with the players that trained in Cork last week, as do goalkeepers Darren Randolph and Colin Doyle.

 

There is no place for West Ham teenager Declan Rice however, after a few days training in Fota Island during the week.

 

The Boys in Green play Mexico on Thursday evening (1am Irish time) at the Metlife Stadium in New Jersey before returning to Dublin to face Uruguay next Sunday at the Aviva Stadium.

 

Seven days later, Martin O'Neill's side face Austria in what could prove to be a pivotaL World Cup qualifier on Lansdown Road.

 

A number of the senior members of the Ireland squad who won't make the trip to the United States will join up with the squad following the Mexico game.

 

Republic of Ireland squad to travel to the United States:


Goalkeepers: Colin Doyle, Darren Randolph
Defenders: Cyrus Christie, Alex Pearce, Richard Keogh, Shane Duffy, Andy Boyle, Kevin Long, John Egan
Midfielders: Eunan O'Kane, Alan Browne, Daryl Horgan, Conor Hourihane, Wes Hoolahan, Stephen Gleeson, Callum O'Dowda, James McClean
Forwards: David McGoldrick, Daryl Murphy

    About John O'Shea

    John is a Cork based reporter, mainly covering Cork City and Cobh Ramblers. John also reports regularly on Munster Senior League and Cork Youths League football for the Evening Echo. John has also freelanced for … View Full Profile