Stylist O’ Shea signals the dawn of a new era

JOHN O’SHEA is the physical evidence of the start of a new era for Ireland’s international team for he will play in his first competitive match against Georgia in Tbilisi tonight in the European Championship qualifying tie.

O'Shea represents the one major departure from what went before under former manager Mick McCarthy as Brian Kerr attempts to restore winning ways to an Irish squad that was tired after the World Cup and slumped uncharacteristically to play poorly in successive games against Russia and Switzerland.

Kerr, who appears to have restored the up-beat mood that distinguished the squad prior to the start of the current championship, paid an indirect tribute to his predecessor by restoring Kenny Cunningham to the captaincy yesterday with the comment: "We want to retain as much continuity as possible."

The introduction of the talented O'Shea represents a major step forward, however, particularly as he is virtually certain to play at left-back. With Stephen Carr back to full fitness and operating on the right, Kerr will go into his first competitive game with a stronger defence than Ireland had in the World Cup.

The manager would not confirm his team selection on the eve of the game, however, and parried all queries with the comment: "I don't tell the players until the morning of the match."

But a review of a squad weakened by injuries and the un-availability of Robbie Keane suggests that his only decision will be who to pick on the right of midfield. In this regard he would not be drawn further than to offer the obvious fact that he had a choice between three Lee Carsley (Everton), Colin Healy (Celtic) and Alan Quinn (Sheffield Wednesday). His choice effectively is between the experienced Carsley, winner of 23 caps, and the promising Healy whose progress has been hindered by his inability to get into the Celtic team.

It is certain that Kerr will have Mark Kinsella alongside Matt Holland in midfield with Kevin Kilbane on the left. This would leave Damien Duff to operate just behind a target-man in Gary Doherty in the free role that Kerr usually offered him at underage level.

The challenge before Ireland is a considerable one. Georgia have technically skilled individual players like the wonderful if erratic Georgi Kinkladze (Derby) and the highly-dangerous striker Glasgow Rangers striker Shota Arveladze.

Cunningham yesterday described Kinkladze, a player he played against at club level, as "a brilliant player with an astute brain who is capable of playing the killer pass."

Ireland will need to be at their best if they are to achieve the win that would set them up perfectly for a huge effort at winning on Wednesday as well as against Albania.

Quite apart from the strength of the opposition Ireland have to come to terms with the old-world atmosphere of this neglected corner of the world where years of dominance by Russia left a country light-years behind the west in terms of development.

Perhaps their environment might not impact upon the players but it would be unusual if the chaotic traffic conditions, the pot-holed roads, the sight of militia with sub-machine-guns on street corners and the obvious poverty of the local population did not make some impression.

A football contest is likely to represent an opportunity for Georgia to make a brave statement in front of the local population about their nationalism, their pride, their ambition and, indeed, their anger at having been subjected to years of oppression.

These two matches represent a very difficult challenge for the new Ireland manager in his first competitive assignment but he made it clear he was well aware of what is needed.

"If we don't get four points from these two matches then we'd need an extraordinary set of results in the group to survive," said Kerr.