Is this the Republic of Ireland’s best uncapped XI?
Over the past 40 years, there have been a host of players, from the League of Ireland and further afield, who had the ability for the top level but never got the call, here’s the pick of them
MANY were called but too few were chosen. Through the turbulent history of the Republic of Ireland, a raft of players – the bulk from the League of Ireland – got so close to draping the green jersey on their shoulders.
Collectively, they were class acts, deserving of a cap. That they missed out was down to a combination of circumstances.
From the 1930s to the late 1960s when the ‘Big Five’ selectors picked the team, there was a perceived bias towards players attached to Dublin clubs as Cork’s finest, such as Seánie McCarthy and Donie Leahy, found out.
A number of leading players across the Irish Sea also missed out on recognition as clubs were not obliged to release them for internationals.
Also, a player injured on Saturday for his club was often replaced by someone living in Dublin who could get to ‘Dalyer’ in time for the Sunday afternoon kick-off.
Since the power was placed in the hands of Mick Meagan in 1969, it has been the manager’s call who to pick, while preparation for games has also become more structured.
Even so, some high-calibre players still missed out as they came to their peak when the jersey may have been in the possession of an equally-talented rival, or a dominant personality who rarely missed a game.
In addition, managers differed in their appreciation of players.
Some leaned on versatility over verve; some, such as Jack Charlton, did not hold the domestic game in high regard.
Our study of those embraces the period of 1980 to 2020, which coincided with six Irish appearances in major finals, five lost play-offs and some near-misses.
It is by no means a definitive list and apologies to some players who’ve been overlooked, again.
I was tempted to include Jack Grealish but he is no longer eligible having switched allegiance to England and will remain the ‘one that got away’ – where would Ireland be now if he’d stuck with us in 2015?
Birmingham sources suggest Grealish may have regrets over switching allegiances. Sadly, it doesn’t matter as the die has been cast.
Of the home guard, Mick Neville, Mick Byrne, Declan Daly, Dave Barry, Pat Morley, Paul Osam, Martin Russell and Tony Sheridan, among others, would not have been out of place.
Across the Irish Sea, the likes of Derek Brazil, Aaron Callaghan, James O’Connor, Chris McCann and Alan Sheahan were among those unfortunate to miss out.
Would any of the current Dundalk trio, Sean Gannon, Michael Duffy and Chris Shields, struggle for air at the highest level? Probably not.
With all these factors at play, here is my best uncapped Ireland team of the last 40 years.
Let the debate begin.
ALAN O’NEILL (GOALKEEPER)
THE 22-season League of Ireland stalwart was selected by four different Republic of Ireland managers, John Giles, Alan Kelly Snr, Eoin Hand and Jack Charlton, but never got further than the replacements bench.
A calm, authoritative, figure, O’Neill won three League titles, three FAI Cups and three League Cups in his distinguished career and didn’t miss a game for Dundalk between 1987 and 1991. Such was the esteem in which he was held, he won Player of the Year at UCD, Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers.
Amateur, Under 21 and Inter-League caps came his way but he missed out on a deserved senior call to arms, unlike others of his time, such as English-based Ron Healey (two caps) and Kelham O’Hanlon (one).
OWEN HEARY (RIGHT-BACK)
IF Heary had been born five years later, I’m certain he’d have played for Ireland under Giovanni Trapattoni, as the Italian never quite settled on a right-back – Steve Finnan, Paul McShane, Kevin Foley, Stephen Kelly and John O’Shea were all tried in the No2 jersey.
Heary was foremost a defender, of which Trapattoni would have approved, but he got forward when needed and was the league’s finest right-back for over a decade, first with Shelbourne and then Bohemians, mopping up all seven titles as well as two FAI Cups.
Robust, athletic and a leader, Heary excelled in Europe, which suggested he would have coped with the demands of the international arena. Only, he never got the chance.
DON O’RIORDAN (CENTRE-BACK)
A HUGELY versatile player who was comfortable in midfield, central defence or as sweeper. The Dubliner enjoyed longevity in the lower leagues of England, before rising to the top flight with Notts County in 1991.
That same season, O’Riordan scored a left-foot thunderbolt as County took the lead against Spurs in the FA Cup quarter-finals at White Hart Lane. Check it out on YouTube.
At 34, he played in the old First Division for County, only to ship a serious injury on the opening day of the season, away to Manchester United.
A former Ireland under-age captain, O’Riordan was a real leader who figured in four senior squads but a full cap proved elusive.
PADDY McCARTHY (CENTRE-BACK)
THE strapping Dubliner chalked up over 250 Championship games in seven seasons from 2005 to 2012, two at Leicester, one at Charlton and five at Crystal Palace.
A natural leader, McCarthy was appointed captain at Palace in 2010 but injury held him back when the club won promotion to the Premier League in 2013.
Whole-hearted and competitive, McCarthy played with distinction for Ireland at U16, U19, U21 and B level, but the final accolade was denied him. During Trapattoni’s time in charge, he made the bench for a friendly against South Africa in 2009 in Limerick.
At that time, he was positioned to kick on but the Italian preferred the likes of Sean St Ledger and McShane.
McCarthy edges out Dermot Keely, an inspiring leader on the League of Ireland coal-face, as well as Brazil, so promising at Manchester United before a decent four-year spell at Cardiff, and Callaghan.
MARTIN LAWLOR (LEFT-BACK)
THE outstanding left-back in League of Ireland history played five Ireland U21 internationals and made 30 appearances for the League XI in a decorated and durable career, 14 seasons of which were spent at Dundalk.
Lawlor’s international pedigree was evident in famous European duels for Dundalk against the likes of Celtic, Spurs, Porto and Liverpool. Hard as nails, and a fitness fanatic, Lawlor was unfortunate that fellow left-backs, Chris Hughton and John Devine, were born in the same year, 1958, while the classy Jim Beglin came along a bit later.
Elder brother Mick and father, Kit, were both capped but Martin Lawlor, who played 635 competitive career games, was denied a unique family treble.
TOMMY GAYNOR (RIGHT WING)
GAYNOR’S feats in the 1988-89 season mark him out as one of the unluckiest players to miss out at senior level.
The Limerick native was with a classy Nottingham Forest team at a time when the Irish bandwagon was rolling in earnest, yet never won the approval of Jack Charlton. A striker who could operate wide on the right, Gaynor will never forget April 1989, which started when he set up two goals for Forest in their comeback 3-1 win over Luton in the League Cup final at Wembley.
After the horror of Hillsborough in the FA Cup semi-final, Gaynor played in the Full Members Cup final against a classy Everton side later that month, which Forest won 4-3.
Forest also finished third in the First Division that season yet, for all that, Jack’s head wasn’t turned.
EDDIE GORMLEY (CENTRE MIDFIELD)
IN THE late 90s, the hottest ticket in Irish club football was Friday night admission at ‘Richer’ to see Eddie Gormley, the ‘King of the Camac’, who spurred the Saints to three titles. A twofooted midfielder who could split any defence with his vision to see a pass, and a set-piece specialist, Gormley made the Saints hum – just ask Brian Kerr or Pat Dolan.
In the summer of 1996, the newly-appointed Ireland manager Mick McCarthy capped a raft of new players.
Alas, Gormley, who had just won the League with Pats, wasn’t one of them. He would not have been out of place.
In between book-ending his career at Bray, Gormley spent three seasons at Doncaster Rovers, twice being named player of the year.
PATSY FREYNE (CENTRE MIDFIELD)
HE never won the League, smoked like a train (Gormley, too, enjoyed a drag), yet the classy Cork man makes this team.
When supposedly past his best, in his 30s, Freyne was the Artful Dodger of the League of Ireland trenches. The ball stuck to his foot like glue and, with a dip of the shoulders, a swivel of the hip, he’d leave his markers in a heap.
Often, they just kicked lumps out of him in sheer frustration.
For touch, vision, sheer ability on the ball, Freyne was in a class of his own. As a reporter, it was a privilege to see his name on the Cork City team sheet as you knew he’d give you something to write about.
Freyne made his City debut in 1986 and finished in 2002, but cruelly missed out on the league win in ‘93 having fallen out with City to return to the Munster Senior League. The slower pace of international football was made for him, as it was for his doppelganger, Wes Hoolahan.
BRIAN MOONEY (LEFT WING)
AT 20, Mooney played for the Liverpool first team; at 24, he was part of the Irish B team that destroyed England 4-1 at Turner’s Cross – the opposition included the likes of Dixon, Adams, Winterburn, Batty and Le Tissier.
The Irish XI that day included a slightly built winger, Mark Kelly, who won four caps; Mooney, stronger, skilful and comfortable on either flank, won none. It was a travesty. At the time, the Dubliner was a cult hero at Preston North End in the old Third Division, perhaps one rung too low for Jack Charlton.
In ’91 he was transferred to the top flight with Sunderland but relegation and injury followed.
At 27, he returned home and graced the League of Ireland for nine seasons.
STEPHEN GEOGHEGAN (FORWARD)
IF ‘GEOGHO’ had gone to England rather than staying in the League of Ireland, he’d have pocketed plenty of caps, and plundered a few goals too.
A ‘fox in the box’ striker, he was akin to the legendary Mick Leech in that he had a nose for goals, scoring 158 in the league.
Along the way, he won four league medals and three FAI Cups, including a coveted double with Shels in 2000. He also went as close as anyone in the XI to a senior appearance. Geoghegan made the bench for Ireland’s 1-0 friendly win over Holland in April, 1994.
Late on, Charlton turned to a newcomer in attack; it was Owen Coyle, rather than Geoghegan.
Three years later, he was the 19th man when Ireland lost a crazy game 3-2 in Macedonia.
He still has the orange jersey but he’d have swapped it for the ‘cap’ that he deserved.
EOIN DOYLE (FORWARD)
IF Paul Cook had become manager of Ireland, Doyle would probably have 50 caps and 20 goals by now, as his career thrived under the Liverpudlian, initially at Sligo and then again at Chesterfield.
Doyle was on the mark in two successful FAI Cup final penalty shoot-outs for Sligo, and later helped Hibernian to the 2013 Scottish Cup final.
Since dropping anchor in the English League, Doyle has scored goals wherever he’s been, chiefly under Cook at Chesterfield and, more recently at Swindon where he chalked up a whopping 25 goals this season.
Along the way, he scored in 11 consecutive games from October 12 to December 26, the first player in English football to do so since Jamie Vardy in 2015.