Proud McGinty so happy to receive Ireland’s call once more

This afternoon’s U21 friendly against Holland at Tallaght Stadium (1pm) offers new beginnings for many Irish youngsters and Sean McGinty appreciates the chance presented to him by Noel King.

For the Manchester United defender, his early days of international football brought a captaincy and player of the year award, but that changed in 2011.

Just as Paul Doolin’s reign as U19 manager gained momentum, McGinty was cut adrift while his team-mates surged towards the European Championships in Romania. His absence was barely noticed as Ireland reached the semi-finals, the first team from these shores on that stage for nine years.

Apart from one further call-up for a friendly in Slovenia later that year, McGinty didn’t figure under Doolin again last season, even for the Uefa qualifiers.

Being isolated from the Irish set-up provoked speculation of him following the lead of United clubmate Michael Keane by switching his allegiance to England. But, replete with a new contract from United, the 19-year-old is thrilled to be back on the international stage with the U21s this week.

“I’m grateful to Noel King for the call-up and I’m pleased to be back involved,” he said. “I’m not sure why Paul Doolin dropped Shane Duffy and myself from the U19 squad after the first set of qualifiers but I was gutted not to be involved with the lads going to those European finals.

“I was Irish captain for three years and, just because manager mightn’t like me as a footballer or person, it doesn’t mean I’d switch teams [to England].

“England didn’t approach me and I don’t think I’d ever switch. Even when I was out of the squad, my Dad reminded that it was Ireland who gave me my break at international level. It was from playing for Ireland that helped get me the move to Manchester United from Charlton Athletic.”

He added: “I’ve just returned to United from a loan spell at Carlisle United and was delighted to get a contract extension from the gaffer [Alex Ferguson].

“I’m training every day with some of the best players in the world like Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney. I’m going in there every day with a smile on my face and the plan is to try follow the likes of Tom Cleverley, Danny Welbeck and Jonny Evans from the ranks into the first team.”

The withdrawal from the squad of Derby County’s defender Mark O’Brien means McGinty is likely to start in the back-four against the Dutch.

This friendly, followed with another against Portugal in Cork on March 25, will form the preparation for the 2015 Uefa qualifiers which begin for Ireland with a trip to the Faroe Islands in August.

IRELAND (probable): A. McCarey (Wolves); M. Doherty (Wolves), S. Duffy (Everton) capt, D. Williams (Aston Villa), S. McGinty (Manchester United); C. Reilly (Birmingham City), K. Ferdinand (Peterborough Utd), S. Carruthers (Aston Villa); S. Murray (Watford), A. O’Brien (Millwall), A. Forde (Wolves).