JIMMY DUNNE has insisted a Northern Ireland call-up was never on the cards – because of how it would have gone down in his home town.
The QPR defender was included in Republic squads by Martin O’Neill, Mick McCarthy and Stephen Kenny but never capped by any of them.
He is hoping it is a case of fourth time lucky after Heimir Hallgrímsson called him up for the first time for the Nations League play-off against Bulgaria.
Dunne could well be a seasoned international by now had he taken the opportunity to declare for the North but he explained that was never realistic.
The 27-year-old said: Yeah I’ve been asked to do it in the past, my granny is from Enniskillen, just over the border so it’s been an option.
“But, to be honest, in Dundalk, I don’t think you can consider it too much. I don’t want to go missing or anything!”
Dunne was first approached by Michael O’Neill in 2018, during his first spell in charge of Northern Ireland.
At the time, Dunne was on loan from Burnley to Hearts where one of O’Neill’s assistants, Austin McPhee was also working and the player had not yet won even an under-21 call-up from the FAI.
But that was quickly rectified and he was fast-tracked to the senior squad to fend off O’Neill’s interest.
O’Neill said: “We knew Jimmy had a grandparent from Northern Ireland. I had a conversation with Jimmy in Edinburgh, he lives 10 minutes away from me.
“I told him if it was something he wanted to explore then great but it’s a massive decision and I told him I wouldn’t expect him to make the decision lightly.
“As a result of that he’s got picked for the Republic of Ireland so he owes me two cappuccinos!
“Seriously though, I’m delighted for him. To be called up after 15 minutes of Under-21 football, he must have been very good in those 15 minutes. I’m delighted for the boy.”
Dunne has not progressed as he would have liked but – having been converted from a centre-half to a right-back by QPR boss Marti Cifuentes – he hopes his versatility may help him this time around.
He said: “As the years have ticked on, it’s become a bit more difficult. We’re blessed with a lot of big defenders in this nation.
“That obviously makes things a little more challenging but I’m delighted I’m in, I’m delighted to be given the opportunity and I’m going to try and make the most of it.”
