WITH JUST 45 days until Ireland kick off their Euro 2016 campaign against Sweden, we pick the best Irish team of the club season.
This team is based on club performances only, with the standard of the league also taken into consideration.
GK: Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday)
The 31-year-old just edges Newcastle’s Rob Elliot, with a leaky Magpies defence counting against the Newcastle goalkeeper, while Darren Randolph’s lack of game time for West Ham meant his inclusion would be hard to justify.
Westwood has been a crucial part of the Sheffield Wednesday team aiming to return to the Premier League for the first time since 2000 – a draw with Cardiff City on Saturday would secure the Owls’ place in the play-offs.
A couple of niggling injuries have restricted the former Sunderland goalkeeper to 34 starts this season, earning 11 clean sheets on the way, but his place in Ireland’s final 23-man squad is far from certain.
RB: Cyrus Christie (Derby County)
The 23-year-old right-back has proved to be more than capable as a deputy for Seamus Coleman and his fine form for the Rams this season has seen him named Derby’s Young Player of the Season.
The former Coventry City defender is a modern full-back, as comfortable attacking as he is defending. Should Derby fail to be promoted this season, expect a host of clubs to chase the signature of the promising Irish defender.
CB: Richard Keogh (Derby County)
The Derby captain has started every game in the league this season, having missed just one match last season.
Keogh has shown remarkable consistency over the last couple of seasons and was named Derby’s Player of the Season earlier this week, having previously won the award in 2013.
The Rams are guaranteed to be in the Championship play-offs at the end of the season with the 29-year-old aiming to reach the Premier League for the first time in his career.
CB: Damien Delaney (Crystal Palace)
Martin O’Neill has ruled out the possibility of Delaney being included in the Ireland squad for the European Championships, after the Crystal Palace defender opted not to make himself available during the qualifying campaign.
However, the 34-year-old defender is arguably in the form of his career and the most in-form Irish centre-back in the Premier League at the moment.
The Cork native has featured 36 times for the Eagles this season and will be hoping to cap off a fine season by lifting the FA Cup at the end of the season.
LB: Stephen Ward (Burnley)
Ward’s shortage of first-team football was illustrated in the closing stages of Ireland’s famous victory over Germany in October, the Burnley defender struggling with cramp. but Ward has bounced back to play a crucial part in the Clarets’ promotion push.
The 30-year-old has started every match since the end of December, a run of 23 games, which has ensured that barring injury he is almost certain to be included in Martin O’Neill’s final 23-man squad.
RM: Jonny Hayes (Aberdeen)
Hayes has made a late claim to be on the plane to France after collecting several accolades in the past week including being named Aberdeen’s Player of the Year as well as being shortlisted for the PFA Scotland Player of the Year award.
Hayes was a pivotal part of Aberdeen’s title push in the Scottish Premiership before the Dons fell away in the last couple of weeks, his contribution of four goals and eight assists helping the 28-year-old to earn his first Ireland cap last month.
CM: Harry Arter (Bournemouth)
The Bournemouth midfielder has suffered an injury-plagued debut season in the Premier League, having worked his way up through the leagues after leaving Woking in the National League (formerly Conference) in 2010.
Arter has only played 20 times for the Cherries this season but in that time the 26-year-old has illustrated that he is more than capable at competing in England’s top flight. He faces a race against time to be fit for Euro 2016 after picking up an injury against Tottenham in the middle of last month.
CM: Jack Byrne (SC Cambuur)
The Manchester City midfielder is the most exciting Irish prospect in years, and has taken the brave step to play in Holland’s Eredivisie this season in order to get more first-team experience.
Despite Cambuur struggling at the foot of the table, Byrne has justified his decision with some standout displays and earned plenty of plaudits for his individual performances. The 20-year-old has contributed three goals as well as three assists in his 26 league appearances.
LM: Robbie Brady
Some Norwich fans questioned the purchase of Robbie Brady in the summer, saying that £7 million was too much to pay for the Irish international, but the St Kevin’s Boys graduate has emphatically silenced those supporters this season.
The 24-year-old has operated at both left-back and on the left side of midfield for the Canaries this season. His 32 appearances in the Premier League have yielded three goals and two assists, including netting the vital winner against West Brom last month.
AM: Alan Judge (Brentford)
The creative midfielder’s Euro 2016 hopes are over after breaking his leg against Ipswich Town earlier this month, having finally made his Ireland debut in last month’s friendly against Switzerland.
Judge had been in inspirational form for Brentford in the Championship, having scored 14 goals in the league as well as contributing 11 assists for the Bees. Despite missing the last couple of weeks the Dubliner still tops the assists table in the Championship.
The injury is not just a blow to his international aspirations but could rule him out of a move to the Premier League in the summer, having been linked to several top-flight clubs in the January window.
CF: Shane Long (Southampton)
The Tipperary native is heading into this summer’s European Championships on the back of his best goalscoring return in the Premier League, with nine goals despite missing several games over the course of the season through injury.
Long has now cemented his place in Southampton’s starting line-up, and was at times picked ahead of Italian forward Graziano Pelle having initially struggled to win over the fans at St Mary’s following his £12 million transfer from Hull.
