Quinn: Irish Cats must raise the ante

NIALL QUINN has challenged Sunderland’s Irish contingent to “stick their chests out now and improve by 10-15%” after the arrival of a host of high-profile signings at the Stadium of Light in recent weeks.

Roy Keane was in the process of holding final talks with Anton Ferdinand when Quinn was speaking at the Docklands Festival of Gaelic Football and Hurling in Dublin yesterday.

With the transfer window closing on Monday, Quinn admitted Sunderland were hoping to secure one more significant signing in the coming days but would say no more.