ONE group of Republic of Ireland supporters have particular reason for hoping Town midfielder Kevin Kilbane wins his 109th cap in tomorrow’s big Euro 2012 qualifier.

For the Dublin showdown represents the debut of the newly-formed Huddersfield branch of the Supporters Club.

The Irish Centre- based group already have 34 members, and 29 will be at the Aviva Stadium, complete with a giant flag which proclaims their allegiance to club and country.

“We were born out of a group of families and friends from the Irish Centre who are all Town season- ticket holders,” explained secretary John Lambe.

“We became known as the ‘Huddersfield Town Irish Terriers’ but it was a trip to watch Celtic which led to us setting up the club.

“It was to celebrate the 40th birthday of Mick Ruane, who is now our social secretary, and it went so well that we decided to organise a trip to watch the Republic.

“Originally it was an informal thing but (former Town academy chief and caretaker manager) Gerry Murphy, who now works for the Football Association of Ireland, suggested we become affiliated.

“The other official branches in England are based in London and Birmingham and representatives of those two branches, as well as Derry, came to our inaugural meeting.

“So did Gerry, (former Irish international and Republic Under 21 boss) Don Givens and (ex-Town and Republic player) Kieran O’Regan.

“We’ve also had great support from Gerry Reardon, from the Football Association of Ireland, and Ollie Walsh, who is a long-standing Irish Centre member and Town supporter and the secretary of the Brothers Pearse Gaelic football team as well as the Irish Centre committee.

“We’re very proud to join the list of organisations which the Irish Centre hosts and we’re looking forward to becoming established and continuing to promote Irish culture and represent Irish soccer here in Huddersfield.

“We’re also looking forward to the Macedonia match, which coincides with the birthdays of our chairman Paul Doyle and treasurer Gerry Nugent, and as Town fans, we’d love to see Kevin Kilbane (pictured left) lining up in the team.”

The Republic go into the game second in Group B, two points behind leaders Russia, who beat them 3-2 in October.

“We certainly feel capable of catching them,” said Kilbane.

“We have to learn from it so Macedonia is a big game.

BROTHERS Pearse’s opening game of the Gaelic football season against St Benedict’s Harps, which was postponed last weekend, is at Colne Valley High School on Sunday (1.45).