Doyle and O’Shea return for Ireland victory parade

Kevin Doyle and John O’Shea have been named in the Irish team for what should be little more than a victory parade around the Aviva Stadium tomorrow night.

Ireland lead Estonia 4-0 after their heroics in Tallinn on Friday night, but despite such a sizeable cushion, the ever cautious Giovanni Trapattoni has resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes ahead of the return leg.

O’Shea has shaken off a hamstring strain to take the place of the injured Stephen Kelly at right back, while Doyle returns to partner Robbie Keane in attack after serving a one-game suspension, although Jonathan Walters can consider himself hard done by to miss out.

Interestingly, Trapattoni revealed that Keane's club, LA Galaxy, requested that he be released from the set-up to return to America ahead of the MLS Cup Final on Sunday, but Keane said no to Hollywood on this occasion as he intends to celebrate Ireland's qualification in style and perhaps, with a Garth Brooks karaoke session in Malahide afterwards.

Aiden McGeady, an ever present in the qualifying campaign, has been given a rest after a mixed display in Tallinn – he did constantly threaten down the flanks and delivered the cross for Andrews’ goal, but his delivery resembled that of a drunken postman at times.

The lively Stephen Hunt will take McGeady’s place on the wing, and otherwise the team is unchanged as Trap seeks to reward the loyal servants who have got Ireland in this position in the first place.

Ireland have been making all the right noises about the tie not being over yet, but barring a miracle to end all miracles in Dublin tomorrow evening, we can soon start looking forward to next summer and Amen to that.

Kick off at the Aviva Stadium is 7.45pm.

Republic of Ireland: Given, O'Shea, Dunne, St Ledger, Ward, Duff, Whelan, Andrews, Hunt, Doyle, Keane (captain).