Sean Maguire receives first senior international call-up for World Cup double-header

Diarmuid Kearney reporting from the press conference in SSE Airtricity HQ in Leopardstown.

 

Sean Maguire has been called up to the provisional Republic of Ireland panel for the games away to Georgia on September 2nd and home to Serbia on September 5th.

 

The Preston North End striker has received the call up just nine days after making his league debut for the Lancashire club following his move from League of Ireland Premier Division leaders Cork City.

 

The Kilkenny native has shone in recent times and remains the League of Ireland's top scorer with 20 goals – equal to the club record set by Pat Morley in 1992/93 and 1999/2000.

 

O’Neill selected a 39-man panel for the double header as Ireland look to get back to winning ways in the hope of qualifying for next summer's World Cup in Russia.

 



Matt Doherty and Liam Kelly join Maguire as other uncapped players in the squad with Maguire’s Preston captain Greg Cunningham recalled and in line to win his first cap since 2013.

 

Rob Elliot, Paul McShane, Ciaran Clark, James McCarthy, Stephen Quinn, David Meyler, Shane Long and Kevin Doyle all return having missed the games against Mexico, Uruguay and Austria in June.

 

 

Republic of Ireland MNT Provisional Squad:



 

Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph (Middlesbrough), Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday), Rob Elliot (Newcastle United), Colin Doyle (Bradford City).

 

Defenders: Cyrus Christie (Middlesbrough), Richard Keogh, Alex Pearce (Derby County), Paul McShane (Reading), Shane Duffy (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ciaran Clark (Newcastle United), John O'Shea (Sunderland), John Egan (Brentford), Greg Cunningham (Preston North End), Kevin Long, Stephen Ward (Burnley), Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

 

Midfielders: Aiden McGeady (Sunderland), James McClean (West Bromwich Albion), Glenn Whelan, Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), Jeff Hendrick, Robbie Brady (Burnley), James McCarthy (Everton), Stephen Quinn, Liam Kelly (Reading), David Meyler (Hull City), Harry Arter (Bournemouth), Eunan O'Kane (Leeds United), Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City), Jonathan Hayes (Celtic), Callum O'Dowda (Bristol City), Alan Browne, Daryl Horgan (Preston North End).

 

Forwards: Jonathan Walters (Burnley), Shane Long (Southampton), Daryl Murphy (Nottingham Forest), David McGoldrick (Ipswich Town), Kevin Doyle (Colorado Rapids), Sean Maguire (Preston North End).