Martin O’Neill hands out the golden tickets to Euro 2016

Robbie Keane has been included in Ireland’s squad of 23 for the European Championship finals despite a calf injury having ruled him out of the match against Belarus at Turner’s Cross.

James McCarthy, as expected, also makes the cut, though his hamstring problem saw him miss both of the squad’s farewell friendlies in Dublin and Cork.

But, at the other end of the caps scale, there was heartbreak for Harry Arter after a thigh injury picked up in training on Monday ruled the Bournemouth midfielder out of the finals. The player was said to be distraught on leaving the camp to return to his home in England.