No regrets, says Kinsella
THEY stream out, heads bowed, away from a World Cup they left undefeated and yet, somehow will take no further part in.
Some don’t stop at all, the distraught figure of Kevin Kilbane is shepherded away from the clutches of the media, you would barely notice Ian Harte disappearing onto the team bus.
Some linger behind, trying to make sense of the senseless. After playing so very well, after dominating Spain, they are heading back to Ireland tomorrow. Some things simply defy explanation.
"We shot everything we had at them, it would put a smile on people’s faces if we had managed to do the job. When Niall came on, he made a serious difference. Spain couldn’t handle the big man up front, and as time went on, they sat back, hoped to hang on for the win," a clearly emotional Mark Kinsella recalls.
He was one of the many who played his heart out yesterday, curtailing any Spanish creativity while also providing a platform for Damien Duff to sparkle, like he has done throughout the tournament. "Damien was outstanding," Kinsella says, a common sentence in the aftermath of each game. "We were trying to get the ball to him as much as possible. Every time he got the ball, he was fouled or caused Spain problems."
Kinsella, himself, didn’t take a penalty, but had the utmost sympathy for those who did. After all, those who put their hands up were the bravest on a night of bravery.
"Those who took them were the five lads who put their hands up, they were the ones who were chosen and there is nothing you can do after that. It’s in the lap of the gods, really. We tried as hard as we could and just looking forward to going home now."
Steve Finnan was one of those who threw his hand in the air, and bulleted his penalty into the corner of the net. The pressure was immense when he stepped forward, Ireland had just missed three penalties in a row.
"I knew if we missed we were out. It happened so quickly I didn’t even notice when it came to my turn. Some of the lads just advised before going up, pick a spot and stick to it. Fortunately, I did that and the keeper went the other way." Although Spain played the entire extra-time with only 10 men, it escaped the players’ attention. Finnan didn’t even realise Spain played with 10 men.
"I just realised there now, when you told me, that they were down to 10 men. But, we wouldn’t have approached it any differently."
No regrets, then. "No, there aren’t any regrets. We played our heart out, the lads have had the best five weeks of their lives, so there are no regrets. We did everything we could."
Fitting way to conclude this World Cup for the Boys in Green.
