KEITH BRANAGAN will win his first cap for the Republic of Ireland in tomorrow's game against Wales at Cardiff, despite the fact he didn't rate a place when Mick McCarthy named his original squad of 20.
An improbable week for the Bolton reserve goalkeeper held another surprise after Alan Kelly withdrew from the squad with a groin injury he sustained in Sheffield United's expensive defeat by Norwich City at Bramall Lane yesterday.
Following on the earlier loss of Blackburn's Shay Given, Branagan, number three in the pecking order only six days ago, now finds himself elevated to the top spot for a game designed to help both countries' World Cup preparations.
"They say that a week is a long time in football and this in the proof," he said. "It's a great opportunity for me to prove my ability and I intend to take it."
Branagan, who played in a B international against England at Anfield two years ago when Jack Charlton called the shots in the Ireland camp, didn't always enjoy the unqualified confidence of McCarthy.
Five years ago when they were both at Millwall, McCarthy allowed him to move to Bolton for the giveaway price of £10,000. Three years later, he was playing in the Premiership with the Lancashire club and threatening to embarrass his old manager still further with every game.
"We had a surfeit of goalkeepers at the time and I told Keith just to cut down on the wage bill," said McCarthy, before adding, tongue in cheek: "I think he might be worth a bit more now.
Kelly, who missed at least six caps after he sustained a back injury in training last March - allowing Given into the team - was philosophical about his latest misfortune.
"It happened quite simply in the build up to Norwich's first goal, when I fell awkwardly" he said. "There is an obvious problem with my groin but not until I've had a scan tomorrow, will I know the full extent of the damage.
"I should have been on my way to, Cardiff this evening, instead I'm getting ready to go to hospital. Naturally, I'm a bit down just now, but that's football - you've got to be able to live with the bad days as well as enjoying the good ones.
In fact, it was a case of disappointment on the double for the Kelly family, for when McCarthy summoned cover for tomorrow's game, he overlooked older brother Gary. Instead, he asked Wimbledon's reserve goalkeeper, Brendan Murphy, to present himself in, Cardiff this morning.
Murphy is Ireland's first choice at under 21 level and doing well enough at Wimbledon to keep the pressure on Neil Sullivan - newly promoted to Scotland's squad by manager Craig Brown.
At this point in his career, he is significantly less experienced than Gary Kelly and to that extent, his selection for the job of providing cover is something of a surprise.
The only surviving injury doubt in the Irish squad is John Sheridan, who turned up in Cardiff with a "dead" leg after figuring in the Bolton team beaten 3-2 at Reading on Saturday.
He didn't train when McCarthy took his players for a brisk 90 minute session yesterday afternoon, but the expectation is that the midfielder, back in favour for the first time since the European Championship play off against Holland 14 months ago, will be pronounced fit.
Paul McGrath, another mature campaigner seeking to re establish himself in McCarthy's plans, took an onlooker's role in yesterday's proceedings - but that scarcely occasioned any raised eyebrows. McGrath reports that his frail knees are as sound as can be reasonably expected and says he will be available to play in central defence.
Not until McCarthy has assessed form in a second training session this morning, will he announce his team, but the likelihood is that it will include Roy Keane, who reported on schedule, at the team's headquarters.
Not the least of Ireland's worries, is the problem of complementing Tony Cascarino in the front line. Keith O'Neill's defection has been exacerbated by the loss of David Connolly, leaving David Kelly of Sunderland as the most experienced replacement.
Yet, there is increasing speculation that the Irish management team will avail of the opportunity to look at uncapped Wimbledon striker Jon Goodman at some stage of the game.
