Dunne misses out on start of new era

Ireland’s new management era has been a while in the making, so the Irish players will hardly be too put out by having to wait a day longer for their first ‘Top Of The Cops’ audition.

Such have been the complicated nature of the logistics surrounding the appointment of Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane that, contrary to usual practice in the week leading up to a Friday international, it will be now Tuesday, and not Monday as previously expected, before the players get to do their first training session in Malahide under the Derryman and his assistant.

However, for Richard Dunne this first opportunity to work under O’Neill will pass him by completely.