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Ireland coach Stephen Kenny has said that Aaron Connolly and Adam Idah may have switched seats during the team’s flight to Slovakia for their crucial qualification for Euro 2020.
The two players were ultimately ruled out of the match in Bratislava on Thursday night, a match Ireland lost on penalties to end their hopes of qualifying for the tournament.
Connolly, who was due to start the game, and Idah were removed from the game-day squad hours before kick-off after they were deemed to be a close contact of a traveling group member who tested positive for Covid-19.
“That seems to be the case yeah,” Kenny said when asked if the players had changed seats.
“I wouldn’t have noticed that because obviously I was at the front of the plane.”
The attackers will also miss tomorrow’s Nations League game against Wales at Aviva Stadium, with Preston forward Sean Maguire and Wycombe winger Daryl Horgan on the team to replace them.
Kenny said that everyone involved will have to learn lessons, but reiterated that he was proud of the performance of his players despite the drama leading up to the start of the game.
“We have a great staff here, a lot of good people that you know.
“This is an unprecedented situation for sure and it is something we have to deal with.
“Certainly everyone can learn, but it is a sad situation and one that we have to live with.
“I think the performance itself was exceptional regardless, although I would look to improve in several respects.
“I’m really devastated for the players because they deserved to get through the night. To go to Slovakia away from home and play as well as they do and have as much possession and show a degree of creativity in the way they did it, I’m devastated
“We all know the opportunity that existed and losing margins like that is something that everyone will have to accept.
“I can’t blame the players, they have been really, really brilliant.”
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