Coleman is a natural-born leader, the kind whose DNA would be in high demand if football ever embraced cloning. In the past 14 months, Doherty has netted 11 times for club and country, a phenomenal return for a full-back. Even a diminished Coleman remains clearly a class above many of Ireland’s regular starters. McCarthy has made big decisions in the past, notably omitting Robbie Keane from a World Cup qualifier in 2001. Because history is unlike to remember any decision to evict Doherty from Ireland’s first XI as anything less than absurd.

Source: Irish Independent November 24, 2019 12:11 UTC