Kavanagh to fill midfield void for Republic

Under-pressure Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr was forced into making a number of changes for his side’s critical World Cup qualifier against Cyprus in Nicosia.

With the inspirational Roy Keane out of the group four game at the GSP Stadium, as well as Wednesday’s Lansdowne Road showdown against Switzerland with a broken bone in his left foot, Kerr turned to Wigan’s Graham Kavanagh to fill the midfield void.