The FAI yesterday filled two vacant dates in the international calendar in confirming that Finland and Denmark will visit Dublin for games at Lansdowne Road on November 15th and February 28th respectively.
Originally, Mick McCarthy's squad was looking at a break of almost six months between the World Cup qualifying games against Estonia on October 11th and the visit to Cyprus on March 24th.
McCarthy, who had consulted with the FAI on the preferred choice of opposition, was suitably enthusiastic after the games had been ratified.
"Players want to be involved on a regular basis and they, like me, will be delighted that the void in the programme has been filled," he said.
"The game against Denmark will be particularly important in that it comes just four weeks before our match in Cyprus. It means that we will have an opportunity of assessing form against one of the better European countries."
The Danes last played at Lansdowne Road in April, 1993 when Niall Quinn's goal for a 1-1 draw earned Ireland a precious point en route to the World Cup finals in the US the following year.
Finland ended an absence of more than 40 years from Dublin when they earned a 11 draw in 1990 in a game staged as a testimonial for Liam Brady. The game against Denmark will be preceded by an under-21 fixture between the countries on February 27th. And it was announced yesterday that Tolka Park will be the setting for the European Championship under-21 qualifier against Estonia on October 10th.
Mark Kennedy, who with Phil Babb was dropped from the squad for last Saturday's game against the Netherlands after their appearance in the Dublin District Court, spoke yesterday of his hopes of reviving his international career.
Before lining our for Manchester City in their game against Leeds United he said: "If I'm not named in the squad for the next game or the next or even the one after that, I won't be ringing up Mick McCarthy to ask why. But I dearly want to play for my country again."
"Competition for places in the team is intense with Kevin Kilbane and Damien Duff playing so well. But if I do get a call from Mick again I'll be bursting a gut to be involved."
