Given raring to go, insists Kelly

No offence to Alan Kelly, but you know it’s a quiet day in camp when a couple of television crews and a battery of photographers are waiting on the steps of the media hotel in Sopot for the arrival of Ireland’s goalkeeping coach.

In fact, the affable Kelly is the first to recognise the irony of the situation, hamming it up for the cameras by giving a regal wave when he steps out of the car and then, when he has taken his solitary seat at the top table, referring in deadpan fashion to the “three press conferences I’ve done in 16 years”.

And while, as you would expect, Kelly remains first and foremost a team player whose loyalty is to the management and players, not the media, he is still able to draw on his insider’s access and vast experience as an international keeper and coach to shed light on the burning issues of Shay Given’s fitness and the reasons why Giovanni Trapattoni surprised everyone by suddenly deciding to give his players the day off yesterday.