Smile boys, you’re national heroes!
Ireland team jet home to a joyful reception... but even that isn’t enough to get Roy grinning again!
THEY returned to home soil after our most successful ever European Championships campaign – but even an ecstatic welcome wasn’t enough to bring a smile to the faces of Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane.
The masterminds behind Ireland’s adventure in France were already perhaps plotting how to qualify for the World Cup in Russia in 2018 – with O’Neill insisting yesterday he wants to keep Keane by his side.
He said: ‘I’d like Roy to stay, I will sit down with him. To a certain extent, I’m misleading you – those conversations have mostly taken place. I think he would like to do it and I think we’re pretty well all in place if the FAI board want to continue on.’
If the management team weren’t overly wallowing in joie de vivre yesterday, the players were as they got a hero’s welcome home from Lyon after their 2-1 defeat to France on Sunday. Hundreds of fans turned out at Dublin Airport and captain Robbie Keane had tears in his eyes as he said: ‘It’s been an incredible journey. Unfortunately we didn’t take it to the next stage which obviously we wanted to do.’
He added: ‘I’m very, very emotional. The players were absolutely magnificent, they poured their heart and soul into this.
‘I couldn’t ask for a better set of players to play with. You don’t see what goes on behind the scenes, these players are desperate to do their best for their country.
And he gave hope for the future, remarking: ‘The journey is only beginning with these young players. It’s important as captain of this country to say that and it brings tears to my eyes. I’m a very, very proud Irishman.’
The FAI’s John Delaney also commended the players, calling them ‘inspirational’. Speaking at Dublin Airport, he said: ‘To the players, you were unbelievable. You inspire our kids to play. That’s the big message for me. They’ve all got new heroes. The likes of Hendrick and Brady and Coleman and Randolph, all these players – Duffy, Long – are written into history but it’s the kids that are watching and saw what you did and to see them to want to play for their country is the real thing for me.’
He also thanked the fans for representing the country so well abroad and said: ‘Our supporters, the best ambassadors this country will ever have, they were superb.
Manager O’Neill thanked both the players and the fans for their enthusiasm and support. He said: ‘We wanted to do as well as we possibly could and if it was at all possible to maybe exceed expectations. I don’t know whether we have or haven’t done that but I think that I would like to thank the players.
‘I think they did their talking on the pitch, which is the most important thing.
‘They were absolutely fantastic. They were rowed on with an enormous crowd and great support.
‘I think they kept each other going during the course of the games. They were great. I want to say a really great thank you.
‘We were cocooned ourselves in Versailles. We weren’t sure what was happening outside then but we’ve come back to find out it’s been a very positive reaction which is great and naturally we want to try and continue on an upward spiral.’
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross also paid tribute to both the team and the fans. He also welcomed the team home at Dublin Airport and shook each player’s hand.
He said: ‘The Robbie Brady goal [against Italy] was something special. Everybody was so proud of him. Everybody in Ireland could feel the thud against the goal on that evening.
‘For me, it was a JFK moment. My grandchildren were with me and they will never forget that moment for the rest of their lives.
‘The fans have been equally great ambassadors for Ireland. What you’ve done is you’ve brought the name of Ireland an enormous amount of credit overseas.
‘And you probably didn’t hear what I heard from the French ambassador to Ireland who said “I have never seen such a spontaneous number of emails from ordinary French people in praise of the Irish team and the way they conducted themselves and the fans and how they conducted themselves”. For us in the Government, that means the good name of Ireland is carried overseas.’
The 23-strong team posed for photographs with the waiting fans and Tamara Gallagher, 19, from Drogheda, was starstruck after she met her idol Robbie Brady. She said: ‘Robbie Brady’s my favourite player. He’s gorgeous. He was my favourite even before the Euros.
‘I follow football and it’s definitely my favourite sport. I’ve always liked him. He’s not a local hero or anything. I just like him.
‘It was amazing [that he took a selfie with me]. I felt so lucky and I just hope they come back out and get pictures with the other fans. I was delighted with them. It was great for them [to get to the final 16]. I’m so proud of them.’
Some 1.26million fans tuned in to see the Irish team take on France on Sunday, making it the highest-rating programme of the year so far.
Around 83% of people watching television at the time tuned into the match. Group Head of Sport at RTÉ Ryle Nugent said: ‘As the national broadcaster, we are also proud that the highest audience of the year tuned into RTÉ2’s coverage as the nation united behind the boys in green.’
Last night, a homecoming ceremony for the team was announced by new Dublin mayor Labour Councillor Brendan Carr.
Fine Gael TD Noel Rock tweeted: ‘Delighted to see that the @FAIreland “welcome home” reception I requested from the outgoing mayor has been announced by our new mayor. Bravo.”
Now Ireland have been knocked out of the tournament, the focus will no doubt turn to extending the contracts of O’Neill and Keane.
Speaking yesterday, O’Neill said he wants to remain in charge of the Boys in Green with Keane by his side. Asked about his unsigned contract in Versailles on yesterday morning, manager O’Neill said: ‘I’ve agreed with [FAI chief executive] John [Delaney] and would be happy to continue on if he’s still feeling that way.
‘I’m very, very emotional’ ‘I’m so proud of them’