O'Neill confident ahead of Euro 2016 qualifying play-offs

Martin O'Neill is confident his provisional Republic of
Ireland squad is ready to face Bosnia and Herzegovina
in the Euro 2016 play-offs.

Martin O'Neill has named a 39-man provisional squad for the
Republic of Ireland's Euro 2016 qualifying play-off with Bosnia
and Herzegovina next month.

After narrowly missing out on automatic qualification from
Group D to Germany and Poland, O'Neill's side must overcome
Bosnia over two legs to secure their place in France next year.
Hull City midfielder Stephen Quinn misses out on the squad
through injury, but Darron Gibson retains his place alongside
uncapped trio Alan Judge, Eunan O'Kane and Adam Rooney.

O'Neill's squad – which he will trim nearer to the first leg in
Zelenica on November 13 – also includes Jonathan Walters and
John O'Shea, although the experienced duo will be suspended
for the opening match of the tie.

There is also a place for Southampton striker Shane Long,
despite the 28-year-old fighting to be fit after suffering an ankle
injury in his last Ireland outing.

"After finishing third in a difficult qualifying group, we enter into
the play-offs against a very good team in Bosnia and
Herzegovina," said O'Neill. O'Neill "I think they are strong and
are coming good at the right time, but we're going in with
confidence.

"Our fate is in our own hands and we will be doing all that we
can to qualify for next summer’s finals.

"We will play the second leg at the Aviva Stadium and that is a
big plus for us because the Irish supporters were fantastic in our
last game there against Germany and we know that there will be
a similar atmosphere for this play-off."
Republic of Ireland squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Rob Elliot (Newcastle United), David Forde
(Millwall), Shay Given (Stoke City), Darren Randolph (West
Ham), Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday)
Defenders: Cyrus Christie (Derby County), Ciaran Clark (Aston
Villa), Seamus Coleman (Everton), Greg Cunningham (Preston
North End), Shane Duffy (Blackburn Rovers), Richard Keogh
(Derby County), Paul McShane (Reading), John O'Shea
(Sunderland), Alex Pearce (Derby County), Stephen Ward
(Burnley), Marc Wilson (Stoke City)

Midfielders: Harry Arter (AFC Bournemouth), Robbie Brady
(Norwich City), Darron Gibson (Everton), Paul Green (Rotherham
United), Jeff Hendrick (Derby County), Alan Judge (Brentford),
James McCarthy (Everton), James McClean (West Brom), Aiden
McGeady (Everton), David Meyler (Hull City), Eunan O'Kane
(AFC Bournemouth), Anthony Pilkington (Cardiff City), Glenn
Whelan (Stoke City)

Forwards: Simon Cox (Bristol City), Kevin Doyle (Colorado
Rapids), Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City), Robbie Keane (LA
Galaxy), Shane Long (Southampton), David McGoldrick (Ipswich
Town), Daryl Murphy (Ipswich Town), Adam Rooney (Aberdeen),
Anthony Stokes (Celtic), Jonathan Walters (Stoke City)