DAVID FORDE HAS been selected to start ahead of Shay Given for Ireland’s opening European Championships qualifier against Georgia today
38-year-old Given made his return to international football recently, leading many to suggest he could be installed as the new number one goalkeeper.
However, O’Neill has gone with the Millwall stopper, who has been regularly chosen as Ireland’s number one goalkeeper since Given’s initial retirement following Ireland’s disastrous Euro 2012 campaign.
Elsewhere, Stephen Quinn has been handed a surprise start seemingly as part of a five-man midfield with Robbie Keane as the lone frontman, though Jon Walters, who also features, has the capacity to play in both attack and midfield.
Ireland team to face Georgia: Forde, Coleman, O’Shea, Wilson, Ward, Whelan, McCarthy, Quinn, McGeady, Walters, Keane.
