Soccer: Kavanagh’s second coming

OPPORTUNITY with the Republic of Ireland will knock for the younger set over the coming months and also for one seasoned old pro.

Graham Kavanagh yesterday enjoyed the irony of being numbered among the “newcomers” in Brian Kerr’s squad for the match against Canada when, at 29 years of age, he is in every other sense a veteran.

Kavanagh has forced his way into the squad by his consistently good form in the lower divisions. The success enjoyed by Cardiff City in winning promotion from the second to the first division under his captaincy last season commanded attention.