Stephen Ward announces Ireland retirement with 'a heavy heart'

It was only this morning that Stephen Ward rang Mick McCarthy to inform the manager of his retirement from international football.

McCarthy had been considering the retention of the Burnley man in his final squad of 23 for the opening Euro qualifiers against Gibraltar and Georgia but, as the manager went on to explain: “I hadn't rung him and he rang me to pre-empt any chance of that, I guess. Having been out for so long he wants to make sure he is fit to play for his club. He will tell you that he has taken himself out of the running.”