Ireland tune-up for vital qualifiers

BRIAN KERR will bring the Ireland squad together for five days training in Dublin next week in preparation for the home European Championship qualifying matches against Albania and Georgia next month.

The end of the club season in England presented Kerr with the problem of ensuring his squad would be ready for the qualifiers, and while the players will welcome this week’s rest after a long season, the Irish manager was keen to ensure they remained at peak fitness.

Ireland will play Albania on Saturday, June 7, (3pm) and will face Georgia four days later with a 7.30 p.m. kick-off and both matches will be played at Lansdowne Road.