Cunningham: where is all the negativity coming from?

CAPTAIN Kenny Cunningham insisted yesterday that he cannot understand the level of pessimism and negativity aimed at Mick McCarthy.

Cunningham also conceded that the Republic of Ireland squad have succeeded in putting the Roy Keane saga behind them and were now determined to look forward, not back. "While the issue is being put in print in the newspapers then it's not going to go away but, in all honesty, I cannot say it has been the main topic of conversation within the squad," he said last night.

"Everybody has had their say in relation to the events of the World Cup. We are at the stage where everybody is feeling a little exhausted by the whole thing we have said what has to be said and that's pretty much it.