The time is right for Richard Dunne

When he steps out at Tallaght Stadium today Richard Dunne knows it may be the last time he plays in the country his talent was first honed.

Confirmation from the player of his international retirement on Thursday night was hardly surprising given only four of his 80 caps were earned in the past two years.

By his own admission, he was already in ‘semi-retirement’ from the international scene.

It was just last week when Martin O’Neill admitted he was ‘moving on’ without the colossal centre-back and, speaking yesterday in Maynooth ahead of QPR’s pre-season friendly today against Shamrock Rovers, the 34-year-old provided an insight into the reasons why he’s on the same page as the Ireland manager.

“It was a progression of life, you get old and you have to stop at some stage,” Dunne said with a heavy heart.

“I hadn’t heard what Martin said last week but there were no influences.

“I thought about it over the summer, chatting with my mother and father, and the most difficult part was admitting it to myself.

“The Ireland team changes and is progressing. We had an interim manager for my last cap against Kazakhstan but, when the new manager (O’Neill) came in, it was best for him to have people he knows he can rely on for a few years. That’s something I didn’t feel I could offer at this stage of my career.

“It was difficult in the long run to come to this decision but I have been in semi-retirement with Ireland for a while now.”

Such had been the extent of Dunne’s injuries in recent years that QPR were only obliged to offer a contract extension upon him reaching a minimum number of appearances during his maiden campaign in Shepherd’s Bush.

Despite the creaks and strains, the Irishman exceeded that target, yet is fully aware of the precarious nature of club football.

He said: “Ideally everything goes well this season, I will have a good season and get a contract for another season.

“But at the end of thisseason I might not have a contract.”

In the end, unlike some of those he soldiered alongside over a 14-year career in the green jersey, his departure from the fold was civil and of his own choice.

One phonecall to a manager he’s worked under and holds in the highest regards on Wednesday sealed it.

He carries with him into international retirement some of the best memories known to Irish supporters in the past decade.

Asked to list the highlights of his decorated career, Dunne brushed off his peerless display in Moscow during the Euro 2012 to select an event underlining his selfless persona.

Though he helped Ireland reach the 2002 World Cup, Dunne didn’t get a minute on the pitch in Japan and Korea.

The greater good is what matters most to him.

“With the team we had and how well we did, the experience of being at the World Cup was brilliant,” he reflected with a broad smile.

“To return to the Phoenix Park with the squad was something I’d watched as a kid back in 1988 after the Euro finals.”

With a major season ahead of him, Dunne can still afford to be sentimental today.

A homecoming to Tallaght awaits a man and player justifiably considered in the same bracket as Paul McGrath, Kevin Moran and David O’Leary before him in the pantheon of top centre-backs.

“I have asked for 20 tickets,” he confessed. “I’m looking forward to it as I have never played in Tallaght stadium. It’s walking distance for my parents to come down so I’m looking forward to it.

“It will be nice to have all the family there.”

Defender has big part to play, says Redknapp

Queen’s Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp reckons teak-tough veteran Richard Dunne will be crucial to their Premier League survival prospects.

The former Republic of Ireland defender delivered for Redknapp last season by backboning the club’s return to the top-flight at the first time of asking.

Having recruited a pair of high-profile central defenders in Rio Ferdinand and Steven Caulker, a question mark has been raised about 34-year-old Dunne over what promises to be a testing campaign.

Redknapp, however, considers the Dubliner’s experience and quality equally important for the season that kicks off against Hull City on August 16.

“I tried to sign Richard a few years back at Portsmouth, so when the opportunity came up last summer, he was the one player I was desperate to get into the club,” explained the Londoner yesterday at Carton House.

“Richard’s been a fantastic player for many years so I used to laugh when some of my coaches would say that he couldn’t run. I said ‘he can’t run? He’s like lightning’. For a big lad, he’s very quick and powerful.

“I’ve got no doubts about his ability to play in the Premier League. We’ll play three at the back and Richard has a major part to play during the season.”

Unlikely to be accompanying Dunne at Loftus Road is compatriot Kevin Doyle, who spent the second half of last season there on loan from Wolves.

“Kevin was a pleasure to work with but I don’t know about him at the moment,” admitted Redknapp. “I need strikers for sure but Loic Remy might stay.”

Redknapp is hoping to get a better reception from Shamrock Rovers fans today than his last visit to Tallaght Stadium in 2011.

“They were shouting ‘pay your tax’ which was funny because I’d probably paid more tax than the whole crowd put together. It was only banter.”