Republic of Ireland defender Stephen Kelly is hoping Kevin Foley's Euro 2012 heartache can help galvanise his team-mates for the tournament.
Defender says team-mate's disappointment will galvanise the team
Republic of Ireland defender Stephen Kelly is hoping Kevin Foley's Euro 2012 heartache can help galvanise his team-mates for the tournament.
Foley was told on Tuesday he will not be going to Poland and Ukraine after manager Giovanni Trapattoni's late decision to elevate Paul McShane from his stand-by list because of his ability to also cover the centre-half position.
The devastated Wolves full-back, who had been named in the initial 23, played in the second half of Tuesday's 5-0 friendly victory over a Tuscan Select XI in Pistoria, but later indicated he would not be accepting Trapattoni's offer to remain with the squad as they prepared for the tournament.
Kelly admitted the 27-year-old's disappointment had been shared by his colleagues, but hopes it could help to mould them into an even tighter group.
"It's very hard to put into words. It's obviously heart-breaking for Kevin to be involved this far up and then get that news," he said.
"All we can do is say sorry and pat him on the back. It's one of those things in football.
"Football does give people blows and knocks and knocks people down. It's a very difficult situation to take.
"We are all very close and we are all extremely disappointed for him, but that's the nature of the beast.
Decisions
He added: "With the way these tournaments are. The manager has always had 26, 27 players in the squad and there have always been whispers that the manager would have to cut it down at some point.
"For Kevin to have been in the initial 23 and be out of it now, it's extremely disappointing.
"But all we can do is offer him our condolences and wish him the best.
"I am sure we will all be thinking about him when we are away, and it might galvanise us together as a team as well."
The support for Foley was apparent during Tuesday night's game when his free-kick was parried to Jon Walters, who converted the rebound for Ireland's final goal, and he was mobbed by his sympathetic team-mates.
