Paul Tierney is out of the Republic of Ireland’s European Under-21 Championship qualifier against Albania tomorrow afternoon.

Don Givens has made two additions to the Republic of Ireland under-21 squad for the European 2004 Championship qualifiers against Georgia and Albania in a fortnight’s time.

CELTIC star Shaun Maloney and Simon Lynch piled the agony on the Republic of Ireland at Rugby Park last night – just hours after the news of Roy Keane’s international retirement.

Shaun Maloney gave Martin O’Neill more evidence he could fill Henrik Larsson’s sizeable boots at Celtic with a stunning strike in the Scotland Under-21s’ win over Ireland tonight.

Republic of Ireland Under-21s 2 Switzerland Under-21s 3

Manager Don Givens has retained his two eircom League players, Jason McGuinness (Bohemians) and Shelbourne's Wesley Houlihan in his squad of eighteen for the Republic of Ireland's second game in the 2004 European Under-21 Championships against Switzerland at Buckley Park, Kilkenny, on Tuesday, October 8 (kick-off 7.30 pm).

Finland 0

MANCHESTER UNITED’S John O’Shea will captain the Irish U-21 team against Finland in Helsinki on Tuesday, August 20, the eve of the senior international match.

Republic of Ireland coach Don Givens tonight bemoaned his team’s failure in front of goal as defeat by Italy ended their hopes of success at the Toulon Festival.