Ireland 2 Italy 2 Sat 10 October 2009

Pride comes at the end of a night of bitter disappointment! Not a hint of the poison that came from the RTE panel after the game. Frustration at the team selection or performance? Whistles and boos with 10 minutes to go? Anger at the manager? All lies...complete lies. The Luas home was quiet - sad...but no anger...no frustration. This was finally Croke park and a singing section we had been waiting for! What a night of passion and it shows the love is still there for this team even if it doesnt exist in the RTE studio. The sooner O'Herlihy,Giles and Dunphy are off the air the better.

But finally.. bring on the playoffs. No fear.. The bigger the better in my opinion. No guarantees, but it'll be a great night of pride and I trust the players and manager.








Joy unbounded!

"This fella is a proper manager. He reminds me in many ways of Bob Paisley, a wise old guy who just understands football and footballers. He came in and spotted what needed doing, and then did it. He’s looked at what is available to him and has decided this is how we’re going to play – and, when you look at the table, how on earth could you argue with him? We were in there with the world champions, what do people want, for goodness sake?

Our greatest strengths are our raw energy, our desire and endeavour – and he has harnessed all of that. We should be shouting from the rooftops" MARK LAWRENSON