Hundreds of Irish fans were present at Dublin Airport in the early hours of this morning to welcome home Mick McCarthy and his Republic of Ireland squad who yesterday qualified for the 2002 World Cup finals. Despite the early arrival time of the players' seven-hour flight from Tehran, the fans turned up in their droves to show their support for the team after their heroic display against Iran in yesterday's second leg of their World Cup play-off.
Number one target for the supporters was Shay Given and the Newcastle goalkeeper patiently signed autographs as the Irish fans queued up to pat him on the back and pass on their best wishes to the Irish keeper who produced yet another brilliant performance to deny Iran's strike force and secure Ireland's place in next summer's finals in Japan and Korea. Although the Donegal man was eventually beaten in stoppage time by a superb header from Iran defender Yahya Golmohammadi, it came only seconds before the final whistle, much too late for Iran to overturn the deficit they incurred at Lansdowne Road last weekend.
"These fans are incredible," said an emotional Given. "That's why I was just delighted to play well again. After twice losing before in major play-offs we just had to get through this time and now we're going to the World Cup. There's no better feeling but we've worked hard for this and I think it is only what we and the fans have deserved," he added.
Manager Mick McCarthy was clearly emotional when he spoke to RTÉ Sport following the final whistle and it seemed the frustrations of the last six years were finally lifted from the former Irish centre-back who is now on his way to another World Cup. "One of the nicest touches about all this for me was being applauded back in the dressing room by the players when I finally got there at the end of the game," said McCarthy. "We've come a long way and had to get over the disappointment of not finishing top of our qualifying group and getting to the finals automatically. Now we've lost the very last match and I'm not happy about that - but I guess we'll accept it because of all the joy of going through," he added.
McCarthy's wife Fiona and other members of his family were waiting to greet him at Dublin Airport and for once, McCarthy could greet them with a smile. "My life has been put on hold with these qualifiers and you never forget the feeling two years ago and two years before that when we didn't quite make it in Belgium and Turkey. But this time the family don't have to worry. There is no grumpy old dad coming home."
McCarthy and the FAI are set to open talks about a new contract for him soon after the World Cup draw takes place in Korea on December 1. His current agreement runs until February but there is every indication from both sides that he will receive a new two-year-deal taking in qualification for Euro 2004 in Portugal. Brendan Menton, chief executive of the FAI said: "We're very relaxed about Mick wanting to leave things for a few weeks. After the World Cup draw when FAI officials come back from Korea, I think we will conclude matters fairly quickly."
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
