Long, O’Shea boost for Irish Euro hopes

LONDON: Republic of Ireland boss Martin O’Neill received a major boost ahead of today’s Euro 2016 showdown with Bosnia-Herzegovina when Shane Long and John O’Shea resumed training. The pair, who missed the first leg in Zenica on Friday through a combination of injury and suspension, were joined by striker Jonathan Walters, who like O’Shea, was suspended for the 1-1 draw. Daryl Murphy, who led the line in Long’s absence in the first leg, was the only man to sit out the warm-up. O’Neill will hope Sunderland defender O’Shea, who has not played since damaging a hamstring in the north-east derby against Newcastle two weeks ago, and Southampton striker Long, who limped out of the 2-1 defeat in Poland on October 11 with a foot problem, are both available as the campaign draws to a close at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium. Robbie Brady’s strike in Bosnia handed the Republic a precious away goal, meaning a 0-0 draw or any victory will be enough to book their trip to France next year. — AFP