Given injury would be unthinkable as keepers fail to raise bar

BY BRIAN FLYNN
THE LACK of depth in the Irish squad was highlighted this week with news that Bohemians keeper Brian Murphy has been drafted into the Ireland squad — Coventry City’s Kieren Westwood becoming unavailable through injury.

After having helped Bohemians to back-to-back league titles recently the 26-year-old Waterford man receives his first ever call-up to the national side.

Should the unthinkable happen and Shay Given picks up an injury before or during the vital play-off clashes with France then Giovanni Trapattoni will have to call on either the Bohs’ man or Scunthorpe United’s Joe Murphy.

Dubliner Joe Murphy is another untested player at international level and despite being a club hero at Scunthorpe the step up to such a higher grade could be difficult for the 28-year-old.

Given who picked up his 100th international cap in the 0-0 draw against Montenegro last month has been vital to Ireland’s cause in recent years and Irish supporters will be saying their prayers that the Manchester City shot-stopper avoids injury over the next 10 days.

The Donegal man’s club manager Mark Hughes sang his goalkeeper’s praises this week saying: “He’s been playing exceptionally well for a number of years. He is outstanding and he’s been outstanding for a number of years. People can see why I wanted to bring him to the club, he’s an outstanding goalkeeper and a good person to have around the club.”

Given will have painful memories of the last time France came to Dublin when a Thierry Henry special beat the 33-year-old in 2005.

Undoubtedly Ireland’s most consistent performer over the last decade Given acknowledged recently that Croke Park will be a stadium packed with tension come kick-off time on Saturday.

He said “It will be a nerve-racking time for everybody. I have been in the play-offs before, won one and lost one, and I know which I prefer. Getting to the World Cup in 2002 was the highlight of my career and I would love to go back. We know it is going to be tough, but we do not fear anyone. I do not think anyone would relish playing us. We have a settled team, we’re unbeaten in the group and we’ve shown we can go away from home and get a result.”

Despite being one of the world’s top keepers since signing for Newcastle United in 1997 Given has only played in one major tournament with the Republic of Ireland, that being the Would Cup finals in Japan and South Korea in 2002.