Robbie Keane and James McCarthy named in Republic of Ireland Euro 2016 squad despite injury concerns

Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill named his final 23-man squad for Euro 2016 on Tuesday night

Close to the witching hour on Tuesday night, master alchemist Martin O’Neill finally revealed his Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2016 brew.

As expected, the Ireland manager has drawn heavily on experience and will embark for France with three centurions in his ranks — Robbie Keane, Shay Given and John O’Shea.

Keane sat out Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to Belarus with a calf problem but the 35-year-old record-breaker is pushing to be fit before the Group E opener against Sweden on June 13. ‘He’s improving, he’s captain of the side and we wanted him with us in France,’ said O’Neill.

‘If he doesn’t make the first game, and he may well do, he will be ready for the other two.’

Keane and Given, the only links to the 2002 World Cup finals, will be eager to force their way into O’Neill’s Euro thinking before retirement.

Given, who started on Tuesday, will vie with Darren Randolph and Kieren Westwood for the gloves in France after David Forde missed out in the 23-man squad.

‘He’s been great around the place and that decision was very difficult because he’s been excellent.

Goalkeepers: Shay Given (Stoke), Darren Randolph (West Ham), Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday).

Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Cyrus Christie (Derby), Ciaran Clark (Aston Villa), Richard Keogh (Derby), John O’Shea (Sunderland), Shane Duffy (Blackburn), Stephen Ward (Burnley).

Midfielders: Aiden McGeady (Sheffield Wednesday), James McClean (West Brom), Glenn Whelan (Stoke), James McCarthy (Everton), Jeff Hendrick (Derby), David Meyler (Hull), Stephen Quinn (Reading), Wes Hoolahan (Norwich), Robbie Brady (Norwich), Jonathan Walters (Stoke).

Forwards: Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy), Shane Long (Southampton), Daryl Murphy (Ipswich).

‘It’s just his lack of game time recently at Millwall obviously hasn’t helped,’ said O’Neill.

‘Keiren has played a lot of games and Seamus McDonagh has seen him often and come back with good reports.’

O’Neill was forced into a late change of plan when midfielder Harry Arter was ruled out of the finals with thigh damage picked up in training on Monday.

‘It is one that might clear up in time but we don’t want to be carrying players with injury into the competition,’ said O’Neill.

‘We already have Robbie and James (McCarthy) and I didn’t want any more.’

Arter’s absence copper-fastened Stephen Quinn’s selection in midfield and also opened up another slot in the engine room which David Meyler seized.

Meyler will be relieved as he gave away the ball which lead to the opening Belarus goal last night but did enough through the campaign to have the edge on Darron Gibson and newcomer Eunan O’Kane.

Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arter was ruled out after injuring his knee in training on Monday

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In attack, O’Neill has gone for Shane Long, Daryl Murphy, Jon Walters and Keane.

Murphy came through his audition last night in his first game since March 19 although he looked leggy.

Again loyalty played a part in his selection over David McGoldrick who arrived too late on the scene, like he did last night when Ireland were scrabbling for an equaliser.

Kevin Doyle, who was told to stay in the States by O’Neill, posted snaps of a day in the Rockies with Colorado Rapids and tweeted ‘would’ve have preferred a day out in Turners Cross though’.

Like Gibson and Forde, Doyle figured in the qualifiers but didn’t make the final selection.

There may be a chance for a late, late call should Keane struggle to recover fitness as an injured player can be replaced 24 hours before the first Euro game. Keane might have made a difference as Ireland signed off for a major final with a home loss, as they did in 1994 and 2002.