Eye-catching League of Ireland players worthy of their chance says captain Coleman

From Macdara Ferris in Paris

Seamus Coleman reckons they are plenty of opportunities for League of Ireland players to catch the eye of the Ireland management team.

The Republic of Ireland captain, who began his career with Sligo Rovers, has been impressed with the performances of a number of league clubs.

With that in mind he had hoped for more from last Friday’s Dublin Derby between Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers that he attended.

“If you are performing to the best of your ability in the league and the manager and Roy are going to watch, if you catch their eye you know there is a chance that you could be called up and prove yourself,” said Coleman. “There is more and more cases of (League of Ireland call ups) happening.” 

Bohs goalkeeper Shane Supple and Shamrock Rovers attacker Graham Burke were on opposite teams in that Dublin Derby which was watched by Coleman, Martin O’Neill, Roy Keane and former League of Ireland players James McClean and Enda Stevens from the Ireland camp.

Both Supple and Burke travelled out with the Ireland squad on Saturday and were part of the training session for the Boys in Green on the Stade de France pitch on Sunday afternoon. 

Burke got some game time in Celtic Park last week in an Ireland XI side but has the chance on Monday to become the first Shamrock Rovers player to be capped by Ireland since Pat Byrne in 1986.

Supple meanwhile became the first Bohs player to make an Ireland squad since 2009. Interestingly enough that was also a Bohs goalkeeper being called into an Ireland squad to face France. Brian Murphy had the honour that time.

Coleman described the Dublin Derby that he attended on Friday as not “the best game of football that we’ve been at recently” which raised a wry smile from his manager who was sitting beside him in the pre-match press conference.

“I was hoping we’d get a bit more. The League as a whole has been improving at a great rate. Dundalk and Cork have showed that. The manager has shown if you are good enough and are playing well he will give you a chance.”

O’Neill had a number of Dundalk players in his squad in the last campaign but none of them got capped when based in Ireland. Whether Burke and Supple get any game time on Monday remains to be seen but O’Neill handed debuts recently to Declan Rice and Scott Hogan in the game in Turkey last March.

“It feels like there has been a bit of a change with new players coming in (to the squad) and we still have lots of players from the last campaign,” said Coleman. 

“It is so important to show the new lads what is expected on the training pitch and when we put on the jersey to play for our country. They have been great and it is up to them to step up and show they deserve to be at this level and I’m sure they will. The objective stays the same – we want to win every game possible and qualify.”

Meanwhile Coleman is delighted to be back playing after his long layoff after his leg break in the last campaign. He insisted that he feels good and is ready for international action. “I’ve played a lot of games. At club level I’ve been getting forward every bit as much as I had been.

“All in all my fitness is good. I’m not going to be one of those players looking for an excuse that I’m not quite fit yet. I’m back. I’ve got my boots on and there are no excuses. I’m happy to be playing and just want to keep improving.

Seamus Coleman: If you are performing in the @SSEAirtricityLg then you know you'll get noticed with Martin & Roy going to a lot of games. Dundalk and Cork in particular have done really well recently. #LOI#COYBIGpic.twitter.com/l2aaYmP2GP

— FAIreland (@FAIreland) May 27, 2018

extratime.ie will be reporting from the Stade de France in Paris on Monday bringing you all the pre-match buildup, match updates and post-match reaction.