New Ireland on march

THE ebullient Andy Reid is a perfect symbol of the new Ireland, fashioned in the image of Brian Kerr, as they kick-off a new World Cup campaign today at Lansdowne Road against Cyprus (3pm) with spirits high and ambition soaring.

Smart, highly-skilled and confident, the Nottingham Forest youngster has the potential to join the gifted Damien Duff and Robbie Keane in the forefront of an assault on a qualifying campaign for the 2006 finals in Germany that is certain to be hugely competitive and extremely difficult.

The competition from Cyprus, France, Switzerland, Israel and Faroe Islands represents only one element of a campaign that promises to have a pivotal effect on several aspects of Irish football as we know it.