Football: MICK CALLS FOR HIS ANDY MAN; O'Brien taken on board for the big job in Japan.
Byline: Michael SCULLYANDY O'Brien and Lee Carsley were the last men in before the door slammed firmly shut and now they can look forward to a World Cup adventure.
Mick McCarthy's lucky 23 were put out of their misery at the Holiday Inn at Dublin Airport yesterday morning.
There were no surprises in the final line-up as McCarthy played the loyalty card.
The only player left out who had contributed anything of significance in the qualifying campaign was Gary Doherty, but even his winning goal against the US wasn't enough.
"I don't think Gary is fully fit," claimed McCarthy. "We have plenty of cover in terms of centre-backs and I don't regard him as a realistic option up front.
"He is very disappointed, as are all the lads who have been left out."
There's little doubt that most of the squad named were shoe-ins for seats on the Saipan-bound plane, which departs on Friday week.
But most of them remained on a knife edge until hearing the news.
The only ones who had an inkling that they were going were goalkeeper Alan Kelly, winger Mark Kennedy and Lee Carsley, the one most threat following the emergence of Colin Healy.
McCarthy had spoken to all three to determine their fitness and reassured them that they would be in if fit.
"I rang a few of the lads about different things in the last few weeks and sometimes had to leave messages," recalled McCarthy.
"But I didn't just want to say 'This is Mick McCarthy, give me a call'. So I said I wanted to talk about injuries."
Gary Breen also knew he was in, but not before some heart-stopping moments.
"I rang Gary and he was a bit surprised to hear from me - there was silence, and I let him hang for a few seconds before telling him he was in," he smiled.
But McCarthy's whole demeanour yesterday suggested that while he enjoyed the experience of putting together the squad, there was a downside.
He had to deliver the bad news to five hopefuls.
Healy, Steven Reid, Doherty, Rory Delap and Nicky Colgan were all told on Monday that they would not be part of the experience.
"They were all difficult decisions to make, but I dropped massive hints," said McCarthy, who again made it clear that he puts loyalty at the top of his priorities.
"I didn't believe that the players who walked off the pitch in Tehran after we won the play-off against Iran could be left out," insisted McCarthy.
"I had a bit of a dilemma because there was a cup final Colin Healy might have been involved with, and a play-off situation Stephen Reid might have been involved in.
"I was careful not to upset anyone before a big game.
"I could only speak to them on the phone on Monday, it wasn't possible to travel all over the country even though it's a cold way of doing it.
"Of course they were all disappointed, because they all wanted to go, but they wished me all the best and I know they want us to do well.
"I told them all to be aware that if I have any injury problems in the next couple of weeks then I may need to call on them.
"If they don't go then it is there for them in the future, especially with the European Championships up next."
Although the Irish boss argued that Carsley is in the squad ahead of Healy because of ability, the reality is that it's the fact that Carsley has been around for over five years now.
The image of what occurred to Gary Waddock in 1990, when he was sent home from Ireland's pre-World Cup base in Malta, also loomed large in McCarthy's mind.
"Leaving out Colin Healy was difficult. He has done very well and players like him are there for the future.
"But I don't think we have a better chance of progressing in the World Cup by leaving out a player who has been through it all with us.
"It's important to be loyal to people, not just in football but in general."
That's something that McCarthy knows only too well.
"I was in Millwall's reserves, I only had ten games before I went to the World Cup in 1990, but I was picked by Jack Charlton because of my performances for Ireland and his loyalty to players was repaid," he said.
"Colin has done well in two and a half friendlies, but it's different in a World Cup situation. You need experience.
"If someone had come in and was streets ahead of the rest, they would have been in, but that hasn't happened.
O'Brien only made his debut last June in Tallinn, when he came on in the dying minutes of the 2-0 win against Estonia.
But despite only a handful of appearances he has been added to the squad as the eighth defender - largely because of his excellent club form with Newcastle United.
His delight was evident yesterday. "It has been an amazing last 12 months for me," he claimed.
"I've gone from Bradford City to the Champions League and now the World Cup. It's a dream come true.
"I owe Bobby Robson just about everything really. He's a great motivator and I think that's come through this season more than ever."
McCarthy will give most of his 23-man squad a run in Niall Quinn's testimonial against Sunderland next week.
IRELAND WORLD CUP SQUAD
Shay Given . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Newcastle United Dean Kiely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Charlton Athletic Alan Kelly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Blackburn Rovers Steve Staunton . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Aston Villa Steve Finnan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fulham Kenny Cunningham . . . . . . . . . . .Wimbledon Gary Breen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Coventry City Ian Harte . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Leeds United Gary Kelly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Leeds United Richard Dunne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Manchester City Andy O'Brien . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Newcastle United Jason McAteer . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sunderland Roy Keane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Manchester United Mark Kinsella . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Charlton Athletic Matt Holland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ipswich Town Kevin Kilbane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sunderland Mark Kennedy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wolves Lee Carsley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Everton Robbie Keane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Leeds United Niall Quinn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sunderland Clinton Morrison . . . . . . . . . . . . .Crystal Palace Damian Duff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Blackburn Rovers David Connelly . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wimbledon
CAPTION(S):
CENTRE OF ATTENTION: McCarthy explains his decisions at yesterday's press conference; TEAM LEADER: Roy Keane; WHAT A YEAR: Andy O'Brien has made it to the World Cup and the Champions League this season
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| Title Annotation: | Sport |
|---|---|
| Publication: | The Mirror (London, England) |
| Date: | May 8, 2002 |
| Words: | 1035 |
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