Liam Brady pays tribute to ’tremendous’ Paul McCarthy

Liam Brady has paid a heartfelt and glowing tribute to Paul McCarthy, the Cork-born former Ireland U21 international whose sudden death a week ago at the age of 45 came as a huge shock to the football community both here and in Britain.

McCarthy was a centre-half who had only just turned 22 when Irish legend Brady became his manager at Brighton in 1993, a challenging period when the Seagulls were among the favourites for relegation from Division Two.

“He was a very determined and committed player and in the difficult situation I found at the club when I came in, I needed people like him,” Brady recalled.