No FAI contact made with US star Shane O’Neill, insists dad Colm O’Neill.

Colm O’Neill, father of US soccer star Shane, says his son would be "really, really interested" in the Republic of Ireland but adds that communication with the FAI has been limited.

O’Neill, winner of All-Ireland senior football medals with Cork, said there had been no follow-up after some initial contacts from the FAI.

“I spoke to Noel King a couple of years ago, when he rang the house and asked if Shane would be interested (in Ireland), and I said he would be.

“I can’t remember exactly how we left it, whether it was ‘I’ll get back to you’, but we didn’t hear from him again.

“Then, last summer, Shane was over training with Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesborough, and someone called him from the FAI and asked if that number was the best one to get him at, but he never heard from them again.”

O’Neill senior pointed out that Shane has twice been at the US national team camp.

“He’d be enthusiastic about talking to the guys in the FAI to see what opportunities are there, really, really interested, but they’ve never contacted him properly.

“The US national team goes to a month-long camp every January and for the last two years he’s been invited to it, so (Jurgen) Klinsmann seems to be interested in him.

“As part of the camp this year he was on the bench for the US against Chile, and it looks like he might be in the squad tomorrow for their game against Panama “I got the impression someone in the FAI was interested in talking to him but they didn’t follow through on it. “He’d definitely like to talk to him about that, but I suppose it’s hard to be interested when it looks like they’re not interested.

“If I had a dollar for every time someone said to me, ‘would Shane ever be interested in playing for Ireland?’ I’d be a rich man, but I always say it’s a moot point because we’ve never had a real conversation with them about it.”

Meanwhile John Caulfield continues to swell the native ranks of Cork City, with Alan Bennett returning to the club he left for Reading in 2007.

Joining from AFC Wimbledon, the 33 year old defender expressed delight at linking up again with his old club. “It’s the Cork City I remember,” he said. “A club that is successful and challenging for trophies, with a team full of Cork lads. Now I’m coming back into it the way it was back then: successful, driving towards the top end of the league, challenging for cups and playing in Europe. I’m looking forward to meeting some of the new players and also meeting up with players I have played with previously. We are all Cork lads and we all want to play for a Cork team that is doing well. I can’t wait to get started.”

Meanwhile, City have confirmed Dave Mulcahy has been released from his contract by mutual consent, due to work commitments.