Large media farewell for the straight shooting Irish

THE ATTENDANCE at yesterday’s final Irish World Cup press conference said it all about the hugely favourable impression the management and players have made on the media.

Normally, only a handful of writers would feel duty-bound to turn up to report on a nation already eliminated. However, it was as if Ireland, not France, had qualified for Sydney next week-end, such was the attendance. True, Keith Wood was there and most were curious about his retirement thoughts 24 hours on. But there has scarcely been a journalist in Australia over the past five weeks or so who didn't believe that the Irish were the most articulate, forthcoming and wittiest of them all.

In this respect, coach Eddie O'Sullivan has led from the front.