City’s Doyle added to U-20 squad

KEVIN DOYLE, the Cork City striker, yesterday joined the Irish U-20 squad for tonight’s friendly against Italy at Belfield (7.30 pm) as Ireland continue their preparations for the World Cup Finals for Youths in the United Arab Emirates next month.

Ireland's manager Gerry Smith quickly turned to Doyle when Spurs withdrew Mark Yeates yesterday because he was on stand-by for two first-team matches this week.

Spurs informed the FAI that Yeates was needed for a Carling Cup game tonight against West Ham and for the Premiership game against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.

Doyle, who was capped previously at this level, joins his Cork City clubmate Liam Kearney in a squad that includes just one other player from the eircom league Stephen Paisley of FAI champions Longford Town.

Smith had already lost Seán Thornton (Sunderland) because of injury.

David Bell of Rushden and Diamonds was called in to take Thornton's place.

Cork City manager Pat Dolan yesterday paid tribute to the two youngsters he has in the squad. "These are two young players we signed this season and their inclusion is an indication of our ambitions and the quality of player we are seeking.

"These teams are invariably dominated by lads from Dublin and that is because there is a lot of good work being done at under-age level in Dublin. But we are working to advance the cause of Cork football and if Gerry Smith has players who are better than our two lads, then Ireland will be very strong in the World Cup.

The squad had two training sessions yesterday and Smith said: "Everybody took a full part in training and all the lads are rarin' to go. We will have another friendly against Paraguay in Dublin the day before we leave and that too will be a great help to us."

Revised Irish squad :

W.Henderson (Aston Villa), B. Murphy (Man City), S.Paisley (Longford Town), J.Fitzgerald (Blackburn Rvs), J. Kendrick (1860 Munich), P.McCarthy (Man City), S. Capper (Scarborough), P.Keegan (Leeds Utd), A. Deane (Charlton Ath), G.Whelan (Man City), W.Flood (Man City), D. Bell (Rushden and Diamonds), L. Kearney (Cork City), D. McMahon (West Ham), K. Doyle (Cork City), J. Daly (Stockport Co), J. Walters (Bolton Wand), S. Elliott (Man City).