Dunne’s time has come

IN the normal course of events, an Irish squad stripped of Roy Keane, Stephen Carr, Andy Reid, Clinton Morrison, Andy O’Brien and Matt Holland would have the headlines screaming about a personnel crisis for Brian Kerr.

But for tonight’s game against Croatia, the manager’s difficulty is an opportunity.

In truth, injuries notwithstanding, Kerr intended to use this friendly as a chance to blend the old with the new, to recall familiar faces and blood some new ones.