Ireland must set tempo

THE strength of the challenge of Albania will cause Ireland’s manager Brian Kerr to approach today’s critical European Championship tie at Lansdowne Road (3 pm kick-off) with a degree of caution that is well founded.

Ireland did extremely well to take a point from Tirana when the teams played a scoreless game in April.

Kerr, in is usual fashion, declined to reveal his team selection after Ireland completed their preparations yesterday on a Lansdowne Road pitch that is in peak condition.