Keeper Forde thrilled by call up to Ireland squad for Euro 2012

Date Published: 10-May-2012

CIARAN TIERNEY

THE first Galway man to be selected for a Republic of Ireland squad ahead of a major soccer tournament was taking it all in his stride this week as goalkeeper David Forde was enjoying a brief holiday in the sun when word came through that he would be on his way to Poland.

At the end of a season which has been disrupted by a thigh injury picked up last November, the Millwall net-minder told Tribune Sport that he was thrilled to be part of Giovanni Trapattoni’s plans for next month’s Euro 2012 tournament.

A thigh had ruled Forde (32) out of Millwall’s English Championship campaign in recent months, but the native of Innishannagh Park in Galway City is now fully fit and raring to go before the 23-man squad meets up in Dublin next Thursday.

Realistically, Forde is unlikely to feature for Ireland against Spain, Italy, and Croatia, barring an injury to first choice ‘keeper Shay Given, but it is a huge honour for the former Galway United and Derry City goalkeeper to make the travelling party for the Republic’s first appearance at a major tournament in a decade.

“I was stuck for words when I heard the news, really,” he told Tribune Sport on Wednesday. “Looking back, I remember how excited I was looking at Euro 88 and the World Cups as a kid in Galway. I always dreamed of going away to a major tournament with Ireland. I always had that belief that I was good enough and I’m overwhelmed now to be involved.

“It’s a nice personal honour for me to be the first Galway man to make the squad for a major tournament. It’s going to be a great experience. I’m delighted for my parents and family, who are very proud, and for the coaches in Galway who helped me along the way. Quite a few of them back in Galway were talking about coming over, but they had to wait until Monday to see if I made the squad or not!”

Forde has enjoyed a new lease of life since signing for Millwall in June 2008, following spells at Galway United, Derry City, West Ham, and Cardiff City, and went over 200 games without missing a fixture for the South East London club. He became a club hero when a penalty save in a League One play-off semi-final secured Millwall’s place at Wembley in 2009.

Promotion followed with victory over Swindon Town at the end of the following season, and his series of top class performances in the second tier saw Forde finally earn his Ireland call-up at 31 years of age this time last year.

He came on as a substitute in a friendly against Northern Ireland in May of last year, replacing Shay Given, and then made his full debut between the posts in Ireland’s shock 2-0 win over Italy in Belgium on June 7.

Forde picked up his thigh injury in a home defeat to Bristol City last November and has struggled to regain his place in the Millwall side who finished 16th in the 24 team division this season.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.