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Cunningham calls time on Ireland career

13/10/2005

Kenny Cunningham has announced his retirement from international football after the Republic of Ireland failed to qualify for the World Cup.

The Birmingham City defender was part of the Ireland side that could only manage a 0-0 draw at home to Switzerland last night, ending their chances of making it to Germany next year.

And the Irish camp's disappointment was compounded afterwards when skipper Cunningham revealed that the Lansdowne Road stalemate was to be his last appearance in a green shirt.

"It's the end of the road for me without a doubt," he said afterwards.

"I don't want to dwell on it too much. I feel uncomfortable speaking about my personal position on what is a hugely disappointing night for the entire group.

"I feel for our supporters and everybody who has got behind the team and I am sorry we have come up short."

Cunningham has earned 73 caps for his country but, at the age of 34, it was always likely that his international career would come to a halt ahead of next year's qualification programme for Euro 2008.

The former Wimbledon full-back will now turn his attention to club football, although his future at St Andrews remains unclear as he has yet to sign an extension to his current contract, which ends next summer.

Cunningham made his Ireland debut against Czech Republic in Prague in April 1996 and he was handed the captaincy by then coach Mick McCarthy after World Cup 2002, a position he has held since.

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