Carlow man Pádraig Amond has been called up to Mick McCarthy’s Ireland squad for the very first time.
He’s been drafted in to the provisional panel for the opening Euro 2020 qualifiers against Gibraltar and Georgia.
The Newport County striker has been in great goal scoring form of late netting against Leicester City and Manchester City in the FA Cup.
Kilkenny man Seani Maguire is also named in the forwards for the panel for their first two games in the euro qualifiers.
What an unbelievable feeling to be called into the senior squad for the first time. By far this is the proudest moment of my career 🇮🇪 https://t.co/OS28CJlZDo
— Padraig Amond (@padraigamond21) March 7, 2019
Mick McCarthy unveiled his Republic of Ireland squad this afternoon in Dublin as he gets set to begin his second term as Ireland manager, McCarthy is hoping to lead his team out of Group D, which contains Denmark, Georgia, Gibraltar, and Switzerland.
First up is a trip to Gibraltar to play at Victoria Stadium on Saturday, March 23 before returning to Dublin for a home game in Aviva Stadium against Georgia on Tuesday, March 26.
Included in McCarthy’s provisional squad are Keiren Westwood, Stephen Ward, Aiden McGeady, James McCarthy, Glenn Whelan, and David McGoldrick, who each earn recalls following a period away from the international set-up.
Other first senior call-ups are for Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers and Luton Town forward James Collins, who have all represented Ireland at underage level.
Injury has ruled out Newcastle United’s Ciaran Clark, Preston North End’s Callum Robinson, Burnley’s Jonathan Walters, and Southampton’s Michael Obafemi.
The squad will be finalised ahead of the ‘3’ FAI International Awards on Sunday, March 17 with the players undergoing their first session at the FAI National Training Centre on Monday, March 18.
MMcC: James and Padraig have had very good seasons. They deserve the recognition of being called up to the squad #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/8pcJJcdbmf
— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) March 7, 2019
Republic of Ireland Provisional Squad
Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph (Middlesbrough), Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday), Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Kieran O’Hara (Macclesfield Town*), Mark Travers (Bournemouth)
Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Cyrus Christie (Fulham), Richard Keogh (Derby County), John Egan (Sheffield United), Shane Duffy (Brighton & Hove Albion), Kevin Long (Burnley), Jimmy Dunne (Sunderland*), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United), Derrick Williams (Blackburn Rovers), Stephen Ward (Burnley)
Midfielders: Aiden McGeady (Sunderland), Alan Judge (Ipswich Town), James McCarthy (Everton), Jeff Hendrick (Burnley), Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), Alan Browne (Preston North End), Harry Arter (Cardiff City*), Glenn Whelan (Aston Villa), David Meyler (Coventry City*), Shaun Williams (Millwall), Robbie Brady (Burnley), Callum O’Dowda (Bristol City), James McClean (Stoke City), Daryl Horgan (Hibernian)
Forwards: Shane Long (Southampton), Sean Maguire (Preston North End), Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth), Scott Hogan (Sheffield United*), Aiden O’Brien (Millwall), David McGoldrick (Sheffield United), James Collins (Luton Town), Padraig Amond (Newport County)
*Indicates player is on loan
EURO 2020 Qualifiers
March 23: Gibraltar v Republic of Ireland
March 26: Republic of Ireland v Georgia
June 7: Denmark v Republic of Ireland
June 10: Republic of Ireland v Gibraltar
September 5: Republic of Ireland v Switzerland
October 12: Georgia v Republic of Ireland
October 15: Switzerland v Republic of Ireland
November 18: Republic of Ireland v Denmark
BREAKING: Mick McCarthy has named his provisional squad for the upcoming @UEFAEURO European Qualifiers against Gibraltar and Georgia!
Get your tickets for the Georgia game here
➡️ https://t.co/gAjsxK5ZUd #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/e7sfb1fXpt— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) March 7, 2019
