McShane on road to recovery
Apologies for reopening old wounds but it is an inescapable fact that the Wicklow boy was the closest human being on the planet to the most infamous handball incident since Maradona diddled Shilton.
Yep, we’re back in Paris again, on the night when Ireland’s World Cup dream was dashed by Thierry Henry’s ‘Hand Of Gaul’. Has Paul McShane managed to get over it yet?
“It was very hurtful, even to this day,” he says, “because we had a great opportunity to get to the World Cup. And we deserved it more than France. So, yeah, it still hurts.
“I just remember the ball coming up in the air, I think Richard Dunne was trying to get up for the header. Then it bounced and it seemed as if it was going out of play and I was thinking there’s no way he can keep that in. I was shepherding it out. And then he kept it in with his hand. It wasn’t as if his hand was by his side, it was out like that, you know? It was sickening that something so obvious could be let run.”
Ancient history now, of course, and fortunately for McShane his most recent experiences in the green shirt have been much happier, peaking with that spectacular assist to set up Robbie Keane for the goal against Scotland which secured the inaugural Carling Nations Cup.
“Actually, I had one at West Brom like that as well, did a bit of a tic tac and set up a goal,” McShane smiles. “But, yeah, the one the other night was good, I intercepted a ball, did the chop, saw the pass and played it to Robbie. The chop? (Laughs). That’s the technical term.”
And did he think Robbie might return the compliment?
“That was what I was hoping, I was hoping to finish it off, that’s why I kept running like a mad man after I played it off.”
No matter, the defender is just happy to be back in the Irish fold and, at least for another week or so, put his uncertain club future to one side after finishing this season back at Hull City following a loan spell with Barnsley .
Passionate about representing his country, the 25-year-old is an obvious man to ask about the stayaways who have dominated much of the conversation both inside and outside the Irish camp over the past week.
“It is a bit disappointing,” he says. “I don’t really know everyone’s situation, whether they’ve got injuries. But if they’re not just turning up I think that’s bad for the team. You want the players to want to play for their country.
“If they do come back in, I reckon the other lads will just get on with it because you’ve got to try to keep a good atmosphere in the camp. It will be a bit unfair when the lads have come in and done well and then the other lads, if they fancy playing next time, turn up. That would be a little bit unfair but you can’t get too upset about it because you need to go out and try to win games.”
And if the stayaways were left out of the next squad?
“They couldn’t have any complaints. You can’t be picking and choosing for your country. If you’re called up for a squad, I think you should turn up no matter what. Even if you have an injury, you should come in and let the physio check it out.
“I’d always turn up no matter what. I’m just a diehard, I think. I’ve grown up here, moved away at 16 and I feel like I’m representing the people — whether you (in the media) like it or not sometimes.
“I’m representing you lot, the people I’ve grown up with and my family too so I’ll always turn up and put on that green jersey with a lot of pride.
He added: “I know I’m saying a lot of clichés now but that’s just the way I feel.”
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