There's always another day
BY LIAM O COILEAIN
Despite its nine-year vintage, `'Who put the ball in the English
net?'' is as familiar a cry to Irish soccer supporters today as
it was when Ray Houghton headed the ball over Peter Shilton's
despairing reach in Stuttgart during Euro `88.
That magical moment, that has since taken on mythic proportions,
marked the real beginning of the good times under Jack Charlton,
the start of the rollercoaster ride into unknown but always
exciting territory. Along the way there was success and failure,
unprecedented national fervour, and always, passion. That passion
had been sporadic during this World Cup campaign from Mick
McCarthy's Irish side, but pride, if not glory, was salvaged last
Saturday in a rain sodden stadium in Brussels.
Whatever the result, it was a great football occasion. There was
no little irony on the night, well, Greek tragedy really, as that
man Houghton scored almost a carbon copy of his Stuttgart score.
How we roared, as it seemed the Gods were about to smile on us
all over again. In the end, it was just not enough, but the
effort could not be faulted and the fans could go home with heads
held high, having arrived surely fearing the worst.
In a way, this match also marked the banishing of the last
traces of the Charlton era. Ray Houghton's twin strikes mark the
boundaries of a period of Irish soccer graced by some of the most
talented Irish players ever, and certainly the most cohesive
team. It will probably mark the end of the international road for
three of the last stalwarts, Houghton, Andy Townsend and Tony
Cascarino. They leave having earned total respect and admiration,
but they also depart having, in one final hurrah, shown some of
the new boys how to dig deep for their country. On the night, a
totally committed performance was no compensation for a lack of
strength in depth, but if the younger players can take anything
from the game besides their disappointment, it must be that
awareness of the level of commitment that they must emulate.
d while next summer will not see a `Davy Keogh says bonjour'
banner in Paris, the Irish squad has great potential for the
future and youth on its side. A rash of promising young men are
straining to break into the international squad. In years to
come, Shay Given, Robbie Keane, Damien Duff could be the poster
boys of World Cup success. Who knows? If the Charlton years
taught us anything, it is that hope springs eternal and self
belief goes a long way.
d finally, a word of congratulations to the Dublin footballers,
who, like the Spice Girls, are still managerless, but managed to
record their first league win over Wexford in Enniscorthy.
Caretaker bosses Lorcan Redmond and Chris Kane can take some
comfort from the ending of the points drought. Wins too for
Meath, Tyrone and Down and also for Derry who crushed London.
Donegal continued their unbeaten run against Armagh in a match
which saw four players sent off. Cork defeated Clare to avenge
last summer's defeat and Offaly beat All-Ireland champs Kerry.
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