Trap’s reeling in the years

IRELAND’S win against Wales on Wednesday, welcome and encouraging though it might have been, was placed in perspective by finding itself sandwiched between two thrilling trips down memory lane on ESPN Classic.

On Monday night, the channel screened a full-length recording of Ireland against Germany in Ibaraki at the 2002 World Cup finals and then, on Tuesday night, I arrived home from the Aviva Stadium just in time to watch extra-time and penalties in that knock-out game against Spain in Suwon.

I attended both games in a working capacity, and being able to review them in tranquillity all these years later was to be reminded of just how magnificently Ireland raised their game in the aftermath of Saipan and the loss of the player without whom many felt the team simply wouldn’t be able to cope at the highest level.