DUNDALK DUO ANDY Boyle and Daryl Horgan have been getting used to life as Ireland squad members.
The pair received the perfect boost from their FAI Cup final disappointment on Sunday, after it was last night confirmed that they had made Ireland’s final 28-man World Cup squad to travel to Austria for Saturday’s pivotal Group D qualifier.
“It’s an incredible honour to be called up to the Irish squad,” Horgan said. “It’s every young lad’s dream to play for his country and at the moment, I’ve an opportunity to train with the squad and hopefully be in a position where I might be able to make a mark. It’s a great position to be in, I suppose.
“Stephen Kenny called yesterday morning saying ‘you’re in the 28′. It was a good call to get after losing the cup final.”
Boyle, meanwhile, praised other members of the Ireland squad for making the effort to help them integrate into the set-up.
It’s a massive opportunity and recognition for a good season that we’ve had and something I’m looking forward to definitely,” the 25-year-old centre-back said.
“They’ve all (made us feel) very welcome and helped us out, and they’ve been keen to find out about the Europa League and our games. That’s all helped. The minute we came here for dinner, the lads were straight over and made us feel very welcome and we look forward to kicking on.
“I’ve enjoyed my football at Dundalk and to get the recognition of an international call-up has been massive.”
Horgan added that the pair’s inclusion in the 28-man panel was a ringing endorsement for the oft-criticised standard of the League of Ireland.
“The fact that players are being called up from Ireland and being watched by the international management is definitely a huge thing. It might make young players maybe decide they want to stay in the league and get a foot in that way rather than going to England and hopefully the league can improve from there.
Playing in the Europa League has probably helped. The style of football would probably be more akin to international football than the league itself. When we play the likes of Zenit, with the 17 internationals I think they have, you do adapt a bit quicker, so hopefully that’ll help.
“The level we’re playing at the minute in the Europa League, if you do go to England or the Championship, it’s unlikely you’ll play at that level ever again.
“I think we’ve shown that we can compete and that there is a lot of quality in the League of Ireland.
I think there are six or seven other (former) League of Ireland players in the squad already, so the proof’s in the pudding in the sense that there is a lot of quality in Ireland.”
The 24-year-old winger, who has previously represented Ireland at U19 and U21 level, played down suggestions that the pair needed to prove themselves in English football amid rumours linking him with Ipswich among other clubs.
Maybe you have to go away and prove it, but I think in a sense, this year we have proved it.”
Assistant boss Roy Keane added that the pair’s introduction into the set-up was a welcome boost.
It’s been nice. They came in yesterday. They obviously didn’t train today because there’s been a bit of a recovery, but it’s nice to have them on board. I just had a chat with them — they seem like decent lads. They’re getting over the disappointment at the weekend but that’s the nature of the game.
“They’re in the squad on merit and have done really well over the years — particularly in the European games.
“And it’ll be nice to take a proper look at them tomorrow when they can join in properly.”
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