Ireland must get some good home results, insists Irwin

Former Ireland defender Denis Irwin is adamant an upturn in home results can form the backbone to the national team’s revival under Martin O’Neill and his assistant Roy Keane.

Giovanni Trapattoni’s failure to preside over a win in Dublin against a higher-seeded nation during his three campaigns in charge not only hindered Ireland’s qualification prospects but also saw attendances slump at the redeveloped Lansdowne Road.

Irwin, a team-mate of fellow Corkman Keane for nine years at Manchester United, pinpointed a change of fortunes on home soil as uppermost on the new pairing’s to-do list.

Based on his own high opinion of Keane, allied to the evidence from the duo’s opening two matches at the helm earlier this month, the 56-times capped former full-back believes Ireland’s supporters and players can expect to be galvanised and enjoy a break from the “slog” of Trapattoni’s anti-climactic spell.

“It is a good appointment because we just needed a lift,” said Irwin yesterday.

“Things started good against Latvia at home when everything went really well. And, of course, it was then back to reality with a tough job out in Poland to get a scoreless draw.

“I don’t think our away form has been a problem; it has just been at home where we have struggled to beat teams.

“The country needed this, the fans needed this and the players as well needed it. So hopefully it will work out.

“Martin O’Neill’s an experienced manager and I think, in Roy Keane, he has a perfect number two. I really hope it goes well for them.”