
Ireland captain makes long-awaited return for final stretch of Pro League matches
The Gantoise midfielder has been absent since the Paris Games but has been included in the panel for their double-header with Pro League leaders and Olympic champions the Netherlands in Amstelveen.
Mark Tumilty's side will be in action at the famous Wagener Stadium on Wednesday and Thursday before travelling on to Antwerp for matches against Belgium, Australia and Spain, starting on Saturday.
There is also a recall for Banbridge forward Johnny McKee, who is also returning from an absence that stretches back to the Olympics, while Champions Trophy winning Banbridge goalkeeper Luke Roleston is named in the squad as well.
Ireland are currently marooned at the bottom of the Pro League standings without a win from their eight games thus far, their only point coming from a draw against England in December.
Ireland squad: Jaime Carr, Luke Roleston, Lee Cole, Fergus Gibson, Nick Page, Ben Ryder, Peter McKibbin, Mark McNellis, Kyle Marshall, Luke Madeley, Sean Murray, Ben Pasley, Peter Brown, Kevin O'Dea, Daragh Walsh, Matthew Nelson, Ben Walker, Jeremy Duncan, Louis Rowe, Adam McAllister, Ali Empey, Ben Nelson, Luke Witherow, Jonny Lynch, Sam Hyland, Johnny McKee.
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BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Glentoran's time will come with fine tuning
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"But it's never a huge gap. It's always fine margins. Many of the games we lost or drew last season were so finely poised. We were one goal away from finishing second. "The level is up there, the squad performance, Declan's performance - it's all where it should be. I think we just need a bit of fine tuning."Glentoran haven't won the league since the 2008-09 season, but Pour says he believes the Gibson Cup will return to the Oval sooner rather than later. "Our time will come eventually, whether it's under my control or others. "We are serious contenders. There's no reason why it can't happen - the budget's there, we're still signing top players, Declan is more than qualified and capable of bringing the Gibson Cup here."If I didn't think we were capable, I probably wouldn't invest as much. What would be the point? We are capable of doing it and I'm sure one day we will, Who knows, it could be this season." 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"Look, we can build a stadium for £20 million, we can build one for £100 million. It just depends how advanced you want it to be."Our need is clear, we sell out many big games because there is space available, but it's jut not safe. "In terms of impact, our social partnership has done wonders in this area and we understand the need to be sustainable. So, we're very optimistic." 'We're missing a talisman' After finishing third this season, the east Belfast side lost their European play-off semi-final to Cliftonville, something Pour admitted falls well short of the club's standards."European football is very important financially and from an emotional perspective. I was disappointed at the end of the season as our squad was more than capable of progressing through Europe. "We put a very strong team together, so we could have done really well had we qualified for Europe. It was hard to see us not get in there and obviously we could have made a lot of money in Europe in the next few months.""Emotionally, the fans and myself, we deserve to be in Europe. We're a full time club, we're very well financed, we've spent a lot of money over the past few years. It should be a given. "Even statistically speaking, there are four places available. We're a top two/top three team, we should be in Europe every year. Now this is the second year we haven't qualified, it's disappointing." Looking ahead to next season and summer transfers, Pour said manager Declan Devine has identified the positions they need to have already signed Scottish midfielder Liam Burt from Shamrock Rovers and Pour stressed there would be further additions."We may bring in two or three more players to strengthen our squad for next season. We're missing a talisman, we're still lacking a real goalscorer, someone who pulls it all together. So, I think we need one more upfront and one in a more defensive position."The club's women's team have achieved great success in recent seasons, wining three of the last five NIFL Premiership titles, achieving European football and most recently topping their group in the All-Island Cup to progress to the quarter-finals where they will host Dublin side Bohemians."The women's team are the thing that cheers me up," said Pour. "When the men's team isn't doing to well, they give me energy. The manager, Kim [Turner], is doing a great job."They've had a great start to the season and are doing so well in the All-Island Cup. I will support them all the way."


North Wales Chronicle
2 hours ago
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Leader Live
3 hours ago
- Leader Live
Luke Littler ready for ‘one of the best feelings' playing at World Cup
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