CAPTAIN SEAMUS COLEMAN starts tonight’s World Cup qualifier with Portugal at the Aviva Stadium, replacing injured defender Andrew Omobamidele.
Elsewhere, Enda Stevens is preferred to James McClean at left wing-back while Chiedozie Ogbene starts in attack. Adam Idah drops to the bench.
Cristiano Ronaldo starts for an otherwise weakened Portugal, with manager Fernando Santos taking those players in danger of suspension out of the firing line ahead of their Group decider with Serbia on Sunday.
Of their six players on yellow cards only Joao Palhinha starts, meaning Joao Cancelo is replaced by Nelson Semedo while midfielder Danilo Pereira plays in place of Dias.
Ronaldo will start to the left of the Portugal attack, with Andre Silva up front and Goncalo Guedes on the right.
Kick off at the Aviva Stadium is at 7.45pm, and the game is live on RTÉ Two and Sky Sports.
Mcilroy a disaster so far.
@Martin McKenna: can’t play in the afternoon
@Barry Newell: two experts ain’t ye?
Is there any site I can watch it on me phone free.
Rory mcelroy an abs embarrassment .Not one birdie for the over rated one.
@Michael cunnane: out again in afternoon, christ almighty, no birdie and gets out again.
@Martin McKenna and @michael cunnane: neither of you have a clue about golf.
@Ardmore02: i concur
The Ryder Cup has always been a Tournament That has held the interest of golf Fans of Europe much more than your average American Fan.Americans have had only a fleeting interest :We don’t hold the RYDER in Reverence like TheMASTERS,BRITISH OPEN,US OPEN – MAJORS.The Great European Golfers,We See All the time,Many are based here,viewed not as Foreigners but as great individual athletes,place of origin is inconsequential.It’s not a Team Sport,but that’s changing here to a”Must See”Event.This year Ratings are through The Roof & it’s all because of the presence of the revered TIGER WOODS’ resurgence back into the Upper Echelon Of Golf ,not for any Patriotism for AMERICA but as an opportunity to again see him compete with the Best