Martin O’Neill: Irish courage and determination was rewarded with Euro 2016 qualification

As his players returned to the routine of their club careers yesterday, Martin O’Neill could finally allow the gravity of Ireland’s qualification feat sink in.

The nuances of being an international manager provide downtime for reflection and guiding his side to the Euros at the first attempt against the backdrop of some setbacks along the crusade provoked some revelations from the Derryman.

“I think everyone would have a picture of what it might be like if you qualified,” he began yesterday in his trademark monotone, “it’s always at the back of your mind during the course of qualification for any tournament, be it World Cup or European Championships, but I must admit I didn’t ever wish that picture too often just in case you start to let a lot of people down.

“We drew Bosnia-Herzegovina, assuming they would be favourites, as they are 20th in the world, but we came through it and it’s really, really fantastic. Even speaking about it now a few days afterwards, it still feels like after the Monday night’s match.

“But it’s just wonderful to behold now. It’s something I didn’t dare dream about too much. Otherwise you wouldn’t get out of bed in the morning.”

O’Neill, chiming with Roy Keane’s viewpoint earlier this week, sensed a determination in this group of players to bury past demons by reaching France.

Whether it was the three late stoppage-time goals against Georgia, Germany and Poland which secured five points or their attitude to turn up and be available in the face of injury troubles, the vibe was encouraging.

“You have to compete strongly and have heart and soul in it and that’s what pleased me,” noted O’Neill.

“Some people said ‘oh you scored some late goals’ as if it was a criticism, but Manchester United made it a habit for over a decade of scoring late goals and it became part of their makeup.

“For us to score late goals in matches, it shows something, it shows we had a bit of courage and determination.

“I think that is something as the competition reached crisis point, I believe the players rose to the occasions demanded of them and delivered and I cannot ask for anything more.

“The fans, too, had a major part to play. When I took over this time two years ago, our first game was against Latvia and I know it was supposedly the dawning of a new era, as it is probably when any new coach takes his place for the first time.

“The atmosphere that night, though it was only against Latvia, you got a feeling the crowd were looking for something again.

“The experience of qualifying for Poland was terrific, maybe the matches in Poland didn’t come up to expectations, although I think there was a lot of hype over that, I must admit.

“But even so in the course of the qualification tournament itself, our record at the Aviva has been fantastic and that is obviously down to the crowd.

“I thought the atmosphere against Germany was superb but it was surpassed on Monday night.”

Whilst it will represent O’Neill’s first tournament as a manager, his assistant enters even deeper unchartered territory considering his last dalliance with the World Cup.

Still, Keane’s worth to the cause has been cited continuously be his boss.

“I don’t pretend to know Roy fantastically well and that’s the way you like it,” O’Neill reasons.

“We don’t meet up every single day, which is probably a great thing because I’m not sure the two of us would get on brilliantly if we were living in each other’s pockets every day.

“It works well. We have conversations here and there and the occasional meet up. That’s fine.

“But Roy has been influential. He’s an iconic figure, he’s been a world-class footballer, regardless of what Sir Alex Ferguson says!

“He was a world-class player because he influenced that great Manchester United side like you wouldn’t believe.

“He was the driving force of the team and when you are winning leagues and big cups and you have a driving force like that, I’m sorry but you can’t be classed as nothing else but world-class.

“I did not kiss him at the final whistle on Monday. He actually came to me first and said, ‘Don’t come near me’!

“I said, ‘Listen, I am the older one here and you will do what I tell you. So please, join the celebrations.’

“Roy was actually quite shy about it. He took his place as assistant manager and I felt he should take the credit he deserves.”

Martin O’Neill was speaking with Newstalk and Talksport radio stations.