Mark Travers will make a beeline for Caoimhín Kelleher when the Liverpool netminder arrives into Ireland camp today.
Stephen Kenny's players met up yesterday ahead of their friendly encounter with Belgium on Saturday, but Kelleher delayed his trip by 24 hours as he was feeling unwell.
Bournemouth's Travers, another member of Kenny's high quality goalkeepers club, is eager to talk to the Corkman about his headline-catching performance in Liverpool's Caribou Cup final victory last month, when Kelleher scored the winning sudden death penalty.
"It will be nice to catch up with him and ask a few questions about that," smiled Travers.
"It’s a great moment for him in his career. To win a Cup at his age, for such a big club like Liverpool, is a massive achievement and something he should be proud of."
His sentiments are indicative of the good feeling between Travers, Kelleher and Ireland's current number one Gavin Bazunu.
Competition is fierce but there is a bond there between the trio. Naturally, the pecking order could change as time goes by but given their age profile, they could be together at international level for a decade and more.
Travers could be a regular Premier League stopper next season, such has been Bournemouth's form in the Championship - they are in second place behind Fulham, six points clear of the pack.
The Maynooth man has played a big part as the club's first choice keeper.
"It's been a good season for us and it’s a really exciting place to be," he said.
"So we'll take it game-by-game for the last 10 games. We're in a really good position to try and get promoted.
"Everyone wants to play football and be part of the team come matchday and I have enjoyed every second of it this season.
"It’s flown by, and I have 30-plus games this season so it is great to be playing and involved at the club I came up with, since a young age. Really enjoying it."
Travers did have a chance to lay down a marker on the international stage this time last year.
Kenny turned to the 22-year-old for the World Cup qualifier in Serbia, when injury ruled out Ireland's former regular goalkeeper Darron Randolph and also Kelleher.
But Travers, who was on loan at Swindon at the time, was subjected to vile social media abuse by some who blamed him for the concession of Ireland's second goal in a 3-2 defeat.
It was only his third senior cap and he hasn't featured since then at international level, with Bazunu - at 20, the youngest of the trio - seizing his opportunity in brilliant fashion.
"It was a disappointing result and an experience that I will always learn from," said Travers.
"Since that game I have tried to put it to the back of my head and get in at club level, which I have, and hopefully I can get another chance to prove myself at international level again.
"Gavin stepped in since then and he’s done very well. Just putting that game behind me and looking to get my club career going."
He has done that in expert fashion with 35 Championship appearances this term.
Meanwhile, Dubliner Bazunu has continued to show outstanding form on loan away from Manchester City - this season at Portsmouth.
Kelleher has had to be content with playing in the Caribou Cup run for Jurgen Klopp's Reds, in FA Cup games and the 23-year-old has lined out in two Premier League fixtures this season, against Watford and Chelsea.
"The two lads have taken different paths this season," Travers said.
"Gav has done excellently at Portsmouth and at international level, and Caoimhín has done great in the cup competitions and when he has stepped in and played in the Premier League.
"They are both showing the two different ways to do it, but when they’ve been called upon they have both done really well.
"Of course we have a really healthy competition here, there’s some great keepers to work with.
"We keep pushing each other every time we meet up and it’s always a good challenge to have this at international level. I’ll keep working hard and trying to do the best I can.
“The competition is really strong but I just have to come in here and do the best that I can and you will always be confident in your own ability. That’s all I can do."
With more of the spotlight on Bazunu and Kelleher, Travers is content for now to keep working away.
Asked if it was annoying that all of the talk is about the other two, he replied: “No. It’s great for all of us.
"We have known about each other through the younger age groups, so then to be in this position at this young age is a great honour and a really exciting time for Irish goalkeeping.
"You can’t really be annoyed about it. You’ve got to take it in your stride and learn from each other and whoever plays you have to support.
"I'm just trying to focus on playing week in and week out and see where that takes me.
"I know we spoke earlier about the competition here and that’s all I can focus on, is playing week in and week out with Bournemouth and trying to do the best I can and put in good performances when we meet up.”
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