Don’t worry if Darren Randolph gets injured against Georgia tonight, there’s two goalkeepers on the bench for the Republic of Ireland.
Martin O’Neill has opted to include both Ian Lawlor and Gary Rogers, but decided against naming a striker on the bench for the World Cup qualifier at the Aviva Stadium.
Considering Ireland are playing a team ranked 137th in the world, at home, and have laboured in the match so far, the decision not to include Adam Rooney amongst the substitutes is hard to fathom.
Ireland Subs: Lawlor (GK), Rogers (GK), O’Shea, Keogh, Whelan, O’Kane, Hoolahan, Christie, Meyler, McShane, Hayes, Pearce. #COYBIG #IREGEO
— FAIreland (@FAIreland) October 6, 2016
Rooney, who has yet to win a cap for Ireland, was called-up to the squad after Daryl Murphy withdrew with an injury. The Aberdeen striker has scored seven goals in 16 games so far this season, after netting 20 last season and 28 the season before.
Rooney’s impressive club form doesn’t automatically mean he’ll be prolific at international level, but we’ll never know if O’Neill won’t even put him on the bench for a game against Georgia.
There’s no word on whether the 28-year-old picked up an injury ahead of the game, and therefore couldn’t make the bench. But if Rooney is fit to play his exclusion doesn’t make much sense, especially when there are two goalkeepers amongst the substitutes.
It’s almost as strange as giving a central defender the number seven jersey.
This is just wrong… https://t.co/Ib0hQhrub8
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) October 6, 2016
The GAA Hour pays tribute to the unbeatable Dubs and ask where did it all go wrong for Mayo in the All-Ireland final replay. Listen below or subscribe on iTunes.
