Shamrock Rovers duo Jack Byrne and Pico Lopes called up for international duty

Shamrock Rovers star Jack Byrne has been named amongst Stephen Kenny’s 25 man Republic of Ireland squad for the Euro 2020 play-off semi-final against Slovakia in Bratislava (8 Oct) and the UEFA Nations League games against Wales in Dublin (11 Oct) and Finland in Helsinki (14 Oct).

His club teammate Pico Lopes has also been called up again for international duty with Cape Verde after making his international debut last year with the Crioulos.

Unless Rovers look to call the game off against Finn Harps on 10 October the duo will miss that match but they could be available for the home game against Derry City on October 16.

Kenny didn’t include the 24-year-old Rovers midfielder – who has scored seven goals in 13 league games this season – in his squad for last month’s matches against Bulgaria and Finland but Byrne has made the cut this time.

He earned two international caps last year under Mick McCarthy in matches in the Aviva Stadium against Bulgaria and New Zealand.

Defender Derrick Williams will feature for the first time in an Ireland squad under Stephen Kenny but due to injury Troy Parrott misses out.

Callum O'Dowda and Robbie Brady who are both injury concerns are included in the 25 man squad.

The squad will have their first training at the FAI’s National Training Centre in Abbotstown on Monday before flying to Slovakia on Tuesday.

Hoops defender Pico Lopes has been drafted into the Cape Verde squad for their upcoming friendlies on 7 October away to Andorra and against Guinea in Portugal three days later.

Lopes didn’t play in the 4-0 win in Dundalk on Sunday having carried over a knock from Rovers’ game against Waterford earlier in the week.



The defender was part of a training camp in the south of France last year with Cape Verde, earning an international cap in the 2-0 friendly win over Togo.

This latest training camp will begin on 4 October in Andorra with friendly matches being used as preparation for the third and fourth qualifying round of 2022 African Cup of Nations against Rwanda.

Goalkeepers
Darren Randolph (West Ham United), Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Mark Travers (Bournemouth).
 
Defenders
Seamus Coleman (Everton), Matt Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United), Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers), Shane Duffy (Celtic, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion), John Egan (Sheffield United), Derrick Williams (Blackburn Rovers).
 
Midfielders
Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), James McCarthy (Crystal Palace), Harry Arter (Nottingham Forest), Jeff Hendrick (Newcastle United), Alan Browne (Preston North End), Jayson Molumby (Brighton & Hove Albion), Jack Byrne (Shamrock Rovers), Robbie Brady (Burnley).
 
Forwards
Callum Robinson (West Bromwich Albion), Callum O’Dowda (Bristol City), James McClean (Stoke City), Aaron Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion), David McGoldrick (Sheffield United), Adam Idah (Norwich City), Shane Long (Southampton).

    About Macdara Ferris

    Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile