International soccer: McCarthy delighted with win in the wet

Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy was pleased to see his team extend their run to one defeat in 20 matches tonight.

Goals from Mark Kinsella and Gary Doherty gave the Irish a 2-1 victory over the USA at a wet Lansdowne Road.

And McCarthy said: ‘‘I think we gave the hardy souls that came here something worth watching and the players should be congratulated for the way we performed. We gave them a good game considering the conditions.

‘‘Anything could have happened in those conditions but we won and that’s the main thing.

‘‘They got an equaliser from a corner and it shouldn’t have been a corner. Things like that annoy me. We’ve not defended corners and free-kicks well but we’ve won.’’

McCarthy was pleased to see Doherty net in his first international back after breaking a leg in September.

He continued on Sky Sports 1: ‘‘Tottenham were glad for him to come and I’m delighted to have him.

‘‘After breaking his leg he must have thought his season was finished but to come back and score the winner is great for him.’’

Asked if tonight’s game helped him decide on his 23 to take to the World Cup, McCarthy added: ‘‘I don’t know my 23 now.

‘‘If I had everyone fit I’d have known it months ago but we’ve had five or six injuries which have made it different.

‘‘Colin Healy stamped his authority on the game and Rory Delap did OK as well. We can cope if we have one or two injuries.’’