My Irish Euros squad

Who makes up the 23 man suqad
source: bbc

Qualification was achieved back in November after an easier than expected play-off victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina. Now for Martin O'Neill the selection of the 23-man squad will be the next big step in the campaign. Friendlies in March against Switzerland and Slovakia have been lined up which are great opportunities to perhaps give some potential squad players the opportunity to showcase what they can bring to the party. There is a further friendly in May against Holland on the horizon but by then the squad will more or less be decided.

Now for the most part the majority of the squad is pretty much nailed on. The likes of Séamus Coleman, John O'Shea, Darren Randolph, James McCarthy, Robbie Keane, Shane Long will be going barring injury. There are a few areas which aren't clear cut. The first of which is the second and third choice goalkeeper.

Goalkeepers:
IN = Darren Randolph

Does Shay make it?
source: getty

I would be confident enough to say that  Randolph will make the squad. Despite Randolph's lack of playing time with West Ham, his performance against Germany and Bosnia will be still fresh in the mind.
Who joins him though?
David Forde has been a reliable back-up and is playing regularly for Millwall in the 2nd tier in England.
Shay Given has been a loyal servant to the Irish side for years and has come back into the fold after a brief retirement. Personally I would take him for the experience but he does face competition for that final spot from Newcastle's Rob Elliot who is now number one for them after injuries to Tim Krul and Karl Darlow.
Kieran Westwood is another who will be in the reckoning for that final spot. The Sheffield Wednesday number one will feel he has as good a chance as any. Then you have Stephen Henderson at Charlton. The London club are having a nightmare season but Henderson is playing regularly which could go for him.

Defenders:
IN = John O'Shea, Séamus Coleman, Richard Keogh, Marc Wilson, Cyrus Christie, Ciaran Clark

Stephen Ward I would still have my doubts over. Shane Duffy at Blackburn could be an outside bet to get into the squad as would Greg Cunningham with Preston. Cunningham, a left back has regular playing time in his favor over Stephen Ward.
Robbie Brady has also played left-back for Ireland before so he could be the left back of choice for O'Neill which makes it difficult for the likes of Cunningham to make the squad.

Midfielders:
IN = Glenn Whelan, James McCarthy, James McClean, Wes Hoolahan, Robbie Brady, Jeff Hendrick, Aiden McGeady

Who joins these seven in the squad. Well some on the fringes include Darron Gibson but his lack of playing time could count against him. Bournemouth's Harry Arter has only emerged in the past year for the team and could be included in the squad.
David Meyler is a defensive minded midfielder at Hull City and his good season could put him in the frame for the squad.
Cardiff's Anthony Pilkington is another who has been involved in the squad previously but isn't a fore gone conclusion for a place in the squad currently Again playing time is on his side which could get him in ahead of Gibson.
Others names that could be drafting in are Stephen Quinn, Eunan O'Kane and for a bit of width I think Jonny Hayes at Aberdeen deserves a shot in the March friendlies at least.
Another potential wildcard would be Jack Byrne who is currently playing with SC Cambuur in the Eredivisie. A regular in the side he is playing at a good level to warrant discussion.

Forwards:
IN = Robbie Keane, Shane Long, Jonathan Walters

Those three will be in the squad. Big question would be if O'Neill goes with four strikers or five. If it's four as I suspect it probably will be then the choice is tough.
Anthony Stokes moved to Hibernian and has said he wants to make the squad. However I'm not entirely convinced he will.
Ipswich's Daryl Murphy is having a decent season in the championship and I think is ahead of Stokes in the pecking order.

Kevin Doyle is an outside bet
source: Corbin Elliott

Kevin Doyle hasn't been a regular in O'Neill's plans until now and I'm not sure he'll make the squad. If he can hit the ground running with a good start to the new MLS campaign with Colorado Rapids in March then he could get himself into the squad.

Adam Rooney has made a few of the squads but hasn't played yet under O'Neill. Again I would give him a chance along with the other fringe players in the friendlies in March.



My Squad: 
Goalkeepers: David Forde, Darren Randolph, Shay Given

Defenders: John O'Shea, Séamus Coleman, Richard Keogh, Marc Wilson, Cyrus Christie, Ciaran Clark, Robbie Brady

Midfielders: Glenn Whelan, James McCarthy, James McClean, Wes Hoolahan, Jeff Hendrick, Aiden McGeady, David Meyler, Johnny Hayes, Harry Arter,

Forwards: Robbie Keane, Shane Long, Jonathan Walters, Kevin Doyle