KELL IS IN FOR KEEPS?

CAOIMHIN KELLEHER is hoping that his run in the Liverpool team will stand to him tonight.

The Cork man has generally played second fiddle to Gavin Bazunu when both goalkeepers are fit for Ireland.

Bazunu was Stephen Kenny’s preferred No 1, with the former manager stressing that Kelleher (above) wasn’t playing enough at club level.

But the 25-year-old is now profiting from Alisson Becker’s injury and has started Liverpool’s last 10 games in a row, including the Carabao Cup final win over Chelsea.

Bournemouth’s Mark Travers is the third choice available, while Derry City’s Brian Maher was invited to train this week but is not in the squad itself.

THURSDAY’S TV nasty was a punch in the guts for the Ireland players.

The squad gathered at their team base to watch Wales beat Finland - who Ireland face in the Nations League this year - in the Euro 2024 play-off semi-finals.

And the Dragons will be heading to the European Championships in Germany this summer if they beat Poland in Tuesday’s decider.

Ukraine face Iceland while Georgia and Greece clash in the other play-off finals with the winners all progressing to the tournament proper.

It was a sobering tale of what might have been for Ireland, had they not surrendered so meekly in the qualifiers. John O’shea

Quizzed on his keeper headache against Belgium,

Ireland boss John O’shea said: “It’s a difficult decision in terms of we’ve three really good goalkeepers in the squad.

“Caoimhin is now playing at a level that’s very good and Gavin has been playing consistently well all season for Southampton.

“Mark started the season on loan at

Stoke and is back at Bournemouth and played some cup games.”

O’shea added: “When you see some of the training sessions that they’re doing and the saves they make it’s a healthy department.

“But we’ll just see what decision we come up with this evening.” (above) was part of Stephen Kenny’s coaching staff during that campaign and the admits it struck a chord watching those playoffs.

“We were watching the Welsh game against Finland. It obviously hurts because, having experienced it, that’s what you want, that’s what the country wants,” he said yesterday.

“Every player, every staff member, everyone in this room wanted it.

“It’s a key thing to think about, in terms of where we want to be and what you have to do to get back there again.”

O’shea added: “Of course we want to be there - it’s down to performances and results to get there.”