O’NEILL CALLS ON BOHS’ SUPPLE FOR FRIENDLIES
SHANE SUPPLE has replaced Gary Rogers as Martin O’Neill’s go-to League of Ireland goalkeeper. The Bohemians keeper, 31 earlier this month, has been drafted into the Republic of Ireland squad for the games against France next Monday in Paris, and the USA in Dublin on June 2. O’Neill yesterday turned to Supple after losing a trio of front-line netminders, Darren Randolph, Keiren Westwood and Rob Elliot, through injury. Former Ireland U21 keeper Supple, who plays GAA for St Brigid’s in Blanchardstown, will provide competition for Colin Doyle (Bradford City) and Conor O’Malley, the uncapped Peterborough rookie. O’Neill, who will finalise his squad on Thursday for the end of term friendlies, has opted to keep Shamrock Rovers striker Graham Burke involved after his cameo in Sunday’s game against Celtic. The updated squad will include Shane Duffy, Kevin Long, Shane Long, David Meyler, Jeff Hendrick and Harry Arter, who were excused the trip to Glasgow. Meanwhile, Scottish treble winners Celtic have confirmed a pre-season friendly against Rovers in Tallaght Stadium on Saturday, July 7 (3.0). The Irish Hoops face St Patrick’s Athletic in Tallaght tonight (8.0) eager to claw back a seven-point deficit against the Saints and revive their fading Euro ambitions.
IRELAND captain Seamus Coleman, 29, intends to start his coaching badges with the possibility of entering management in the League of Ireland one day. ‘My focus is on playing as long as I can in England at the highest level I can,’ he said.