INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE TROPHY/Rep of Ireland U-23 v England U-23:WATERFORD-BORN Kenny Browne is confident of shaking off a bout of 'flu to allow him realise his footballing "dream" this evening.
Sporting Fingal central defender Browne, who impressed in last week’s training game against Giovanni Trapattoni’s development squad, is desperate to start for Paul Doolin’s Republic of Ireland under-23s in the first of the two-game qualifiers at the RSC, the ground where he established himself as a player with Waterford United.
Doolin won’t name his starting 11 until today as he too looks forward to garnering a foothold in the group ahead of Ireland’s other game away to Estonia in September.
“Coming back to Waterford and playing in a green jersey is something that I’ve dreamt of,” said Browne.
“But it’s just typical that I haven’t been sick in over two years and then before what will certainly be the biggest game of my career to date, this happens. The doctors are helping me, though, and I should be okay.
“Obviously, it’s a game that means a lot to me personally, so I’m really hoping that I’ll pull through. It’s a massive game for all of us and it’s one that we as a squad are really looking forward to so hopefully there’ll be a massive crowd and we can get the result we’re looking for.”
Manager Doolin is confident Browne will be fit along with other slight doubts, goalkeeper Robert Duggan (shoulder) and right-back Séamus Conneely (thigh).
“It’s hard to believe that the game is upon us because we’ve been looking forward to it for so long at this stage,” said Doolin.
“I think it’s going to be a great game of football between two sides that will be going out to win the match.
“It’s the first match in the International Challenge Trophy for both teams, so we’ll both be looking to get off to a good start in order to qualify for the next round. The England team will be a decent side, but I do believe that the squad that I’ve picked is good enough to get a positive result.
“We’ve had some really good training sessions and the players have looked sharp. It’s only when you see them train together do you realise what a good group of players this is.”
England, made up of players from their non-league football, warmed up with a 1-0 win over an East of Scotland League side last week.
“Games between Ireland and England in any sport are always competitive – it’s a bit of a derby, in that sense,” added Doolin. “But it’s a game that our players are really up for and hopefully things will come right for us.”
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SQUAD: Quigley (Sporting Fingal), Duggan (Shamrock Rovers), Conneely (Galway Utd), Mulcahy (Cork City), Breen (Dundalk), Browne (Sporting Fingal), Powell (Bohemians), Fitzgerald (Sporting Fingal), Finn (Sporting Fingal), Bolger (UCD), Chambers (Shamrock Rovers), O’Donnell (Galway Utd), Dennehy (Shamrock Rovers), Gaynor (Dundalk), McCabe (Sligo Rovers), Williams (Sporting Fingal), Byrne (St Patrick’s Ath), Kelly (Dundalk), Amond (Sligo Rovers), Madden (Bohemians).
