Dark clouds hang over Ireland camp

Today, you couldn’t escape the general feeling of despondency. And it was particularly notable when you went to the Irish team’s training camp.

In one of the harshest realities of elimination, for example, it seemed that the free coke bottles and sandwiches that were on offer in the media training centre had been taken away. Insult to injury.

The players’ disappointment was obviously much more profound. As those squad members who haven’t yet played in the tournament – Stephen Hunt, Paul McShane, Darren O’Dea, Stephen Kelly and Darron Gibson – played an effective game of heads and volleys, the rest of the panel looked on miserably. They were all down on their hunches, barely speaking.