One step closer.
Included in the provisional squad to face Georgia and Serbia last month, Seani Maguire missed the cut at the time of asking. For Moldova and Wales, however, the former Cork City turned Preston North End forward has been included in Martin O’Neill’s final squad.
Joining him are the also-uncapped Aiden O’Brien (Millwall) and Scott Hogan (Aston Villa).
With Ireland in need of goals and Maguire bringing his League of Ireland goal scoring streak across the pond, we’ll certainly be putting ourselves among those hopeful he gets to don the green shirt over the weekend.
Ireland face Moldova in Dublin this Friday night before heading to Cardiff on Sunday ahead of Monday night’s crunch game against Wales.
Here’s how the squad looks.
Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph (Middlesbrough), Rob Elliot (Newcastle United), Colin Doyle (Bradford City)
Defenders: Cyrus Christie (Middlesbrough), Richard Keogh (Derby County), Shane Duffy (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ciaran Clark (Newcastle United), John O’Shea (Sunderland), Kevin Long, Stephen Ward (Burnley)
Midfielders: Aiden McGeady (Sunderland), James McClean (West Bromwich Albion), Glenn Whelan, Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), Jeff Hendrick, Robbie Brady (Burnley), James McCarthy (Everton), David Meyler (Hull City), Harry Arter (Bournemouth), Eunan O’Kane (Leeds United), Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City), Jonathan Hayes (Celtic), Callum O’Dowda (Bristol City), Daryl Horgan (Preston North End)
Forwards: Shane Long (Southampton), Daryl Murphy (Nottingham Forest), David McGoldrick (Ipswich Town), Sean Maguire (Preston North End), Scott Hogan (Aston Villa), Aiden O’Brien (Millwall)