By Glenn Mason
Republic of Ireland striker Kevin Doyle is relishing the experience of preparing for his first major international tournament.
The Wolves man is also keen to put the disappointment of Premier League relegation behind him and focus on Ireland's preparations for Euro 2012.
Doyle believes that the once the friendly against Hungary kicks off on Monday evening the players' minds will switch to tournament mode.
He said: "It will start to become a bit more serious and intense once we get to this game. That's really the start of it.
"I know it's a friendly game but it's just less than a week to go to the start of the tournament so I think everyone will really be switched on from then on.
"Once this bit of the trip is over it'll basically be starting and we'll be ready to go. You can see in our training that we are all pretty hungry and wanting the tournament to start.
"We've been talking about it since Christmas basically so it'll be nice when it gets going."
Ireland have been out of major tournaments for ten years and the players are enjoying the preparation needed for such a big event.
Doyle is certainly revelling in the lifestyle on offer in Ireland's Tuscan base in Montecatini.
"We've done a lot of sessions but I feel good," said the Wexford man.
"Everyone is training well. Everyone is enjoying it and how could you not? It's lovely weather and lovely pitches and it's a lovely town that we're in.
"It's fantastic. You've been around the town. There's lovely coffee shops and restaurants. We're free to stroll around the place and see the place. It's a nice atmosphere."
Doyle admitted that he was disappointed to see his friend Kevin Foley leave the squad, but it will not distract him fromt he task ahead.
Doyle said: "I'll miss Kev because I get on very well with him, obviously being a team-mate at Wolves.
"It's very disappointing for him. It's very tough to take. He's worked very hard to get himself fit, but it's just football.
"These decisions have to be made and we get on with it. We're not going to all fall out over it.
"It was sad to see him go but he's fine. He'll bounce back and be ready for the qualifiers in September."
As well as being a talented footballer, Doyle is also handy on the golf course and he confirmed that, despite several challengers, himself and Shane Long took the honours again on their recent day off.
He said: "We got to play a nice game of golf. Myself and Longy showed the lads how it's done, so it was nice.
"We were defending champions and we defended. We came away with the title again. John O'Shea and Stephen Hunt put it up to us. Aiden [McGeady] and Darren O'Dea didn't get close but it was comfortable in the end."
And what of Paul McShane's claims about ending their reign?
"He [McShane] didn't go in the end. I think the sun gets to him a bit and he can't handle it when it's that hot," Doyle joked.
