O'Neill hands Shane Duffy starting spot against Dutch to cement Euros place

Shane Duffy has been handed the perfect opportunity to nail down his place in Martin O'Neill's 23 man squad for Euro 2016 with a starting spot in tonight's friendly against Holland at the Aviva Stadium (Kick off 7.45pm).

The Galliagh man will partner skipper John O'Shea in the centre of the Irish defence for only his third cap at international level.

With Stoke City's Marc Wilson ruled out of the tournament through injury, Duffy is thought to be in pole position to take the Antrim man's place in the squad having seized his chance with a Man of the Match performance in last month's friendly against Switzerland.

Killybegs man Seamus Coleman will start at right back while Duffy's fellow Derry men James McClean, Eunan O'Kane and Darron Gibson are among the substitutes with Lifford's Shay Given.

IRELAND STARTING XI: Darren Randolph, Seamus Coleman, John O'Shea, Glenn Whelan, Shane Long, Shane Duffy, Jon Walters, Harry Arter, Robbie Brady, Stephen Quinn, David McGoldrick