McCarthy urges players to finish off job

Mick McCarthy urged his Republic of Ireland battlers to ‘‘finish the job off’’ and clinch a second-round place at the World Cup finals after Robbie Keane’s last-gasp goal stole a 1-1 draw against Germany.

Keane latched onto a flick-on from substitute Niall Quinn deep into injury-time to beat Germany keeper Oliver Kahn.

It was the Leeds striker’s 11th international goal and it kept the Irish World Cup dream alive after it had seemed Miroslav Klose’s 19th-minute header would make Germany the first side to reach the second round.

‘‘I’ve just said to the players ‘you’ve got to play the Saudis now and finish the job off’,’’ said McCarthy.

‘‘To be honest I think we’ve been the better side. We’ve got passion and commitment and we’re not a bad side.

‘‘Germany have won the competition three times and there’s a bit of a myth about them. With the greatest respect to them we thought we could play against them and that’s been proved. We’ve got a result against them.

‘‘I said at half-time to them ‘don’t play the Germans off the park and lose 1-0. Be the better side and come off with a result’.’’