UEFA UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING Rep of Ireland v Hungary:MANAGER NOEL King believes the weight of failure from previous qualification campaigns won't be a factor tonight when his side begin their quest to reach the 2013 European Championships against Hungary.
A dire record under King’s predecessor Don Givens sunk Ireland to fourth seeds in the group and they will need to topple Italy, Turkey as well as the Hungarians in Group Seven to harbour ambitions of reaching the showpiece to be held in Israel.
This will be first full campaign with King at the helm. He replaced Givens midstream during the last campaign and enjoyed a 5-0 victory over Estonia 12 months ago in his sole competitive match.
Friendly outings against Cyprus, Portugal and, most recently, the win over Austria in Sligo three weeks ago, have provided the 54-year-old with optimism that his charges can challenge for qualification.
“If we keep looking at the past, we’re not going to do much in the future,” said King. “I’ve been around these players for a few months now and I know how determined they are to do something special in the group.
“For them, it’s a chance to achieve qualification for a major tournament. This is the early part of their careers but they would like to reflect on such a feat when they look back in years to come.”
King is buoyed with the presence of senior international James McCarthy in his squad, following the decision of Giovanni Trapattoni to demote him from the panel for his double-header against Slovakia and Russia.
The Wigan Athletic player should be flanked in midfield by Conor Clifford, the Chelsea teen promoted to the senior squad for the friendly in August against Croatia.
Bumper tickets sales yesterday in Sligo indicate the Showgrounds will be 2,800 sell-out tonight and the support will be excited to see Manchester United winger Robbie Brady in action.
The Dubliner, on loan with Championship club Hull City, lit up the venue last time out when he scored twice in the final half hour to secure victory over Austria.
King has replaced injured Crystal Palace striker Seán Scannell in his squad with Conor Hourihane of Plymouth Argyle. Following tonight’s game, the Irish travel to Izmir on Saturday ahead of the second instalment in the double-header against Turkey on Tuesday.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND(probable): McLoughlin (MK Dons); Connolly (Bolton Wanderers), Duffy (Everton), Kiernan (Wigan Ath, capt), Gunning (Dundee Utd); Towell (Hibernian), Clifford (Chelsea), McCarthy (Wigan Ath); Brady (Manchester Utd), Collins (Shrewsbury), White (Leeds Utd).
