Lenihan could feature against Celtic

Dunboyne man Darragh Lenihan will be hoping to feature as the first Meath senior international for the Republic of Ireland today against Celtic in Scott Brown's testimonial.

Lenihan could feature alongside his Blackburn Rovers colleague Derrick Williams with further games to come against France in the Stade de France in Paris on Monday 28th May and then at home to USA on Saturday 2nd June in Dublin. 

Darragh is a brother of Meath forward Donal who will be in action in the Leinster SFC quarter-final against Longford at Pearse Park next Sunday - read Donal's  thoughts on Meath's prospects in the Leinster SFC in the next edition of the Meath Chronicle.

Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill announced the panel for the three-game series when he visited the MDL, Navan for the Leinster Primary Schools' Finals where he presented the medals.

Speaking to the Meath Chronicle on the day O'Neill was reminded that he could be the manager to give the first ever senior soccer cap to a Meath man when he confirmed that Lenihan would be included in the squad.

O'Neill spoke about how making the step up to international level is huge. 
"Darragh  has had a good season, he's a pretty brave lad, let's see what happens. It is a big step, but I don't think he feels overawed by it, but it's a big step and that's something, I think, that sometimes we forget," he suggested.

THE SQUAD NAMED BY O'NEILL
 
Goalkeepers
: Darren Randolph (Middlesbrough), Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday), Colin Doyle (Bradford City), Kieran O'Hara (Manchester United), Ian Lawlor (Doncaster Rovers), Conor O'Malley (Peterborough United)

Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Cyrus Christie (Fulham), Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Alex Pearce, Richard Keogh (Derby County), John Egan (Brentford), Shane Duffy (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ciaran Clark (Newcastle United), Declan Rice (West Ham United), Kevin Long (Burnley), John O'Shea (Sunderland), Darragh Lenihan, Derrick Williams (Blackburn Rovers), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United), Greg Cunningham (Preston North End)

Midfielders: Alan Judge (Brentford), Conor Hourihane, Glenn Whelan (Aston Villa), Jeff Hendrick (Burnley), Harry Arter (Bournemouth), Eunan O'Kane (Leeds United), David Meyler (Hull City), Shaun Williams (Millwall), Alan Browne, Daryl Horgan (Preston North End), Callum O'Dowda (Bristol City), James McClean (West Bromwich Albion)

Forwards: Jonathan Walters (Burnley), Shane Long (Southampton), Scott Hogan (Aston Villa), Aiden O'Brien (Millwall), Sean Maguire, Callum Robinson (Preston North End), Graham Burke (Shamrock Rovers).