Looking after no.1

ONE of manager Brian Kerr’s chief priorities in tonight’s friendly against Czech Republic at Lansdowne Road (7.30 ko) is to evaluate the potential of Sheffield Utd goalkeeper Paddy Kenny as he searches for a regular second choice to Shay Given.

Given, hugely experienced with Ireland with 56 appearances in eight years and still only 27 years of age, looks set to fill the goal-keeping position with Ireland for another decade. But who is ready to replace him if ever he is injured? That's a conundrum Brian Kerr has wrestled with over the past 12 months, ever since the retirement of Alan Kelly (formerly Blackburn Rovers) and Dean Kiely (Charlton Athletic) left him without a recognised deputy.

The desire to find a regular second choice goalkeeper was complicated, of course, by the need to chase qualifying points in the European Championship, so, opportunities for experimenting were extremely limited.