This one means the most to me, says delighted Duff

DAMIEN DUFF is ready to enjoy qualification second time around, every single minute of it.

“I think I am going to enjoy this far more than the World Cup qualification 10 years ago,” said the star man after his 94th international cap.

“When we qualified the last time I was young and you think it is all ahead of you, you think it is going to happen every tournament.

“It sort of passes you by and I think that’s why this one means so much to me. I’ve had my share of injuries and you do start to think about the future so I will relish every minute of this.

“It will keep me going for some time now. I’ll take the anti-inflammatories, try to steer free of injury and look forward to Poland and the Ukraine next year.

“It’s not going to be easy. There are fewer teams in the Euros and it will be tough but the great thing is that we are there now.”

Injured in Tallinn on Friday night – after a clash with team-mate Glenn Whelan – Duff was never going to miss last night’s confirmation of Ireland’s qualification.

“They were going to have to carry me out of that one, I was determined to play even though I was sore and taking injections in the build-up to the match,” added the 32-year-old.

“It means that much to me and I know it means that much to the fans and to the whole country. Times are tough as we all know and if we can give everyone a lift it will be great.

“It’s also important for football that we qualify. Everything about Lansdowne Road is to do with rugby. I love my rugby but we needed that win for football, we needed to qualify.”

As thrilled as he was personally, Duff was delighted for Trapattoni.

“He’s like me getting on a bit and I hope he sees that as his biggest achievement yet,” said Duffer.

“When you look at what he has done and what he has achieved in his career he is a legend so it is great for him that he has done this with us as well.”

As for that anthem turnaround, he faced the old South Stand as the rest of the team looked East, Duffer knows it will haunt him.

“I won’t be let down live that down for years,” he laughed. “That’s the end where the flag used to be so maybe I got a bit of a flashback and thought I was younger than I am.”

Both Given and Duff were quick to dedicate qualification to the Green Army.

“It’s been a long time in coming, 24 years since the last Europeans and ten years since a major championship, so these fans deserve it more than anyone. We’re obviously over the moon,” said goalkeeper Given after his record-extending 120 cap for his country.

And all the more delighted for it to have been achieved in Dublin before the Aviva’s first capacity crowd of 51,150 for a football international.

Reaching Euro 2012 was achieved precisely ten years ago to the day from Tehran and qualification for the World Cup in Japan/Korea.

“It was a different atmosphere tonight than it was in Tehran, that’s for sure,” smiled Given. “We’re going to enjoy this for these special fans, what more can you say.”

And Given insists Ireland will more than hold their own in the finals.

“We’ve proved against some of the big teams in qualification that we fear no-one,” said Given.

“It will be the same next summer. I don’t think anyone will want to get us in the group. We’re delighted to be there. As Richard Dunne said, we’ve got to build on qualification and move on to the next step.”