Defender Damien Delaney won his fifth Republic of Ireland cap as a very late sub as his side beat Italy 2-0 in a friendly in Liege this evening. Delaney came on in the fourth minute of injury time after Keith Andrews and Simon Cox, a Town loan target earlier in the year, had netted a goal in either half.
Former Blues loanee Darren O’Dea played 83 minutes, while exiting Town keeper Brian Murphy is still waiting to win his first cap having again been an unused substitute.
Preston winger Keith Treacy, believed to be a player interesting Blues boss Paul Jewell, came on in the 75th minute and his Lilywhites team-mate Sean St Ledger, the subject of a Town bid in January, played the full 90 minutes.
Elsewhere, Town keeper Márton Fülöp was left out of the 18 as Hungary won 3-0 in San Marino in a Euro 2012 qualifier.
Jaime Peters was an unused sub as Canada kicked off their CONCACAF Gold Cup group games with a 2-0 defeat to hosts the US in Detroit.
Republic of Ireland: David Forde, Kevin Foley (Glenn Whelan 60), Seamus Coleman, Darren O'Dea (Stephen Kelly 83), Paul McShane, Sean St Ledger, Stephen Ward (Damien Delaney 94), Keith Andrews, Stephen Hunt, Andrew Keogh (Keith Treacy 75), Shane Long (Simon Cox 60).