Wimbledon striker David Connolly has hit back at claims he refused to play for Ireland in Wednesday's friendly against Greece in Athens. Caretaker manager Don Givens, who turned to the Wimbledon forward after a string of withdrawals, reckons Connolly rejected the chance to play against Greece because he was not selected in the original squad.
“Don has said I've refused to play for my country and I find that terrible because I never would do that,” Connolly said. “It has taken me by surprise and I'm very disappointed.”
“I came off near the end of Saturday's game suffering from a sore heel. I've had stitches in it and some of the stitches have been coming out. After the game it was decided if I was selected I would not be going and the club said that is what they would tell the FAI if they rang.
“As it turned out Don rang me on Saturday night and asked me `are you fit?'. I asked him why he wanted to know and he said he wanted to call me into the squad. I asked him why I wasn't in the original squad and he said `I choose the squad'. I said I felt I should have been in the original squad.
“Don said, `do you want to play or not?' and, before I could explain - `no, I'm injured' - he heard the word `no' and ended the conversation. If it wasn't for the stitches in my heel I would have been there like a shot and if they (the FAI) had spoken to my club none of this would have happened.”
“The Football Association of Ireland hope to have a successor to Mick McCarthy installed early in the New Year, but Connolly insists he would have no problem playing for Givens should the opportunity arise. Of course I would play for Don in the future,” he added. “If I'm fit I will always play for my country.” | 
