Noel Hunt gets Ireland call

Stephen Hunt's brother Noel is included in the Republic of Ireland B squad for the game with Scotland later this month, as are League of Ireland pair Graham Gartland and Dan Connor.

Hunt is a former Shamrock Rovers and Waterford United striker.  He moved from Dublin to Dunfermline but now plies his trade with SPL fourth-placed side Dundee United.

The 24-year-old has been in tremendous form of late having scored a hat-trick in United's 3-1 League Cup win over Hamilton last week.  That brought his tally to seven goals for the season.

He is being touted for a senior call-up before long.

Hunt's club-mate and former Shelbourne defender Sean Dillon has also earned a call-up to Pat Devlin's squad.

Goalkeeper Connor and defender Gartland, meanwhile, are rewarded for their title winning exploits with Drogheda United.

The call-up could ease some of Gartland's pain after he missed out on the senior squad's summer tour to America owing to a communications mix-up.

Birmingham City's Colin Doyle and Ipswich Town defender Alex Bruce are both included having featured in recent senior squads.

Indeed, Doyle is one of three goalkeepers travelling to Cardiff next week for the senior team's final Euro 2008 qualifier against Wales.

Wes Hoolahan, the former Shelbourne midfielder now with Blackpool, is included as is former Cork City star Roy O'Donovan who joined Sunderland in August

O'Donovan has featured at this level before but was angered when overlooked for the American tour by former senior boss Steve Staunton.

Staunton urged the Corkman to prove himself in the Premiership before contemplating breaking into the senior squad.

Caleb Folan was once a surprise selection under Staunton before withdrawing injured and is afforded another opportunity to prove himself at international grade.

"This (game) is a considerable opportunity for every member of this 18-man squad," said Devlin.

"It is always a difficult task to narrow an international squad down to 18 as we have a big pool of talented players.

"I think it is important we continue working on extending the "B" schedule because at senior international level, sometimes you do not get the opportunity to blood young players."

The game against Scotland will be played at the Excelsior Stadium in Airdrie on Tuesday, November 20th (7.45pm)
 
Rep of Ireland ' B' squad: Colin Doyle (Birmingham City), Dan Connor (Drogheda United), Alex Bruce (Ipswich Town), Graham Gartland (Drogheda United), Kevin Foley (Wolves), Sean Dillon (Dundee United), Jim Goodwin (Scunthorpe), Michael Doyle (Coventry City), Jay Tabb  (Coventry City),   Glenn Whelan, (Sheffield Wednesday),  Wes Hoolahan (Blackpool), David Bell (Luton Town), Caleb Folan (Hull City), Roy O' Donovan (Sunderland), Mark Yeates (Colchester), Noel Hunt (Dundee United), Jon Walters (Ipswich), Stephen Ward (Wolves).