Republic rely heavily on West Midlands

Four Wolves players were today celebrating after they were named in Giovanni Trapattoni's Ireland squad for Euro 2012 with the tournament just a month away.

Stephen Ward, Kevin Foley, Stephen Hunt and Kevin Doyle were all named in the 23-man squad along with Albion trio Keith Andrews, Shane Long and Simon Cox.

Birmingham's Keith Fahey secured a place as he recovers from injury while Villa players Shay Given and Richard Dunne were also included but there was no spot for versatile youngster Ciaran Clark.

The team will be captained by ex-Wolves striker Robbie Keane, who enjoyed a fruitful two-month loan spell at Villa from LA Galaxy earlier in the year, while the only major absentee was Wigan's James McCarthy whose father has cancer.

Sunderland's James McClean was rewarded for his impressive first season at Sunderland with a place in the squad despite only making his international debut for the Republic in February.

Ireland squad: Shay Given (Villa), Keiren Westwood (Sunderland), David Forde (Millwall), John O'Shea (Sunderland), Stephen Kelly (Fulham), Stephen Ward (Wolves), Richard Dunne (Villa), Sean St Ledger (Leicester City), Darren O'Dea (Leeds United), Kevin Foley (Wolves), Glenn Whelan (Stoke City), Keith Andrews (Albion), Keith Fahey (Birmingham City), Darron Gibson (Everton), Damien Duff (Fulham), Aiden McGeady (Spartak Moscow), Stephen Hunt (Wolves), James McClean (Sunderland), Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy), Kevin Doyle (Wolves), Shane Long (Albion), Simon Cox (Albion), Jon Walters (Stoke City).