Caelan Doris Included in Ireland Selection But McCarthy Omitted
Newly reappointed manager the Ireland coach has included skipper Caelan Doris in his Ireland roster for the autumn Tests, but lock McCarthy misses out.
The captain, absent from play since undergoing a shoulder operation in early May, recently returned to provincial training, but it remains unclear whether he will be ready to play against New Zealand in Chicago on 1 November.
Lock Joe McCarthy, on the other hand, was not considered after not recovering from the foot issue he sustained during the first Lions Test against Australia in the summer.
Northern province forward Cormac Izuchukwu and southern province wing Calvin Nash are not included due to injury, and number 15 Keenan had already been ruled out after undergoing hip surgery following the Lions tour.
Dublin province forward McCarthy - Joe's younger brother - is the sole uncapped player in the 34-player group, but the Irish Rugby Football Union states new Munster pair Edwin Edogbo and Gleeson and previously capped western province winger Bolton will head to Chicago as "backup".
After playing the New Zealand at the Chicago stadium in a rematch of their previous encounter, the team will play Japan, the Wallabies and world title holders the Springboks in the Irish capital.
"It's an exciting group to the squad and there's an opportunity for the veteran members and for those who made their debuts on the recent tour to Georgia and the Lobos," said Farrell, who returns to Ireland duty after a break to coach the British and Irish Lions to Australia.
In a largely familiar-looking squad, the Dublin club's Prendergast and Munster's Jack Crowley will once again vie for the starting number 10 position. The number 10 jersey is still up for grabs, as Prendergast and Crowley set to face off for the first occasion in Saturday's URC game at Croke Park.
Frawley is the additional number 10 selected as Farrell opting against calling up the province's Harry Byrne.
At scrum-half, the Ireland boss has selected Lions tourist Jamison Gibson-Park and Casey, who captained the national side to the summer Test victories over the Lelos and Portugal. There is also a return for Connacht's Caolin Blade, chosen to club-mate Murphy.
Robbie Henshaw, Aki, Garry Ringrose and Stuart McCloskey form an veteran cohort of centre options. Osborne is another option in the midfield, but the 23-year-old is also a frontrunner to cover for the full-back at number 15.
Wingers Lowe, Mack Hansen, Tommy O'Brien and Stockdale are named. O'Brien shone on his national team debut over the summer with two tries apiece in the wins over the Lelos and Portugal.
Paddy McCarthy is the sole fresh addition in the Irish pack. The front rower has started two of Leinster's three league games this season and featured in Ireland A's loss by the English in Bristol previously.
McCarthy was included in interim boss Paul O'Connell's summer squad, but did not receive a cap.
Southern province second row Ahern, who received his first two caps in those Tests, is kept in the squad, while experienced Ulster second row Henderson is back after sitting out the summer matches.
Conan, who played in all three Lions Tests during the tour, is set to deputise for Doris should the captain fails to recover full fitness in time to play New Zealand.
The Ireland squad will meet in Dublin on the start of the week before flying to the US on the following day.
Irish Squad
Pack (19): Thomas Ahern (Province), Ryan Baird (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Province), Jack Boyle (Province), Clarkson (Province), Conan (Province), Doris (Province, captain), Furlong (Leinster), Henderson (Ulster), Ronan Kelleher (Leinster), Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Paddy McCarthy (Leinster), Porter (Province), C Prendergast (Connacht), Ryan (Province), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Timoney (Province), van der Flier (Leinster).
Backs (15): Aki (Province), Blade (Connacht), Craig Casey (Province), Jack Crowley (Munster), Frawley (Province), Gibson-Park (Leinster), Hansen (Connacht), Henshaw (Province), Lowe (Province), Stuart McCloskey (Province), O'Brien (Leinster), Osborne (Province), S Prendergast (Leinster), Ringrose (Province), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster).
Irish Fixtures
Times BST
- Ireland v New Zealand, 1 November, Soldier Field (20:10)
- Ireland v the Brave Blossoms, 8 November, Aviva Stadium (12:40)
- Ireland v the Wallabies, 15 November, Dublin (20:10)
- Ireland v the Springboks, 22 November, Dublin (17:40)