Players brimming with confidence: Kerr

Brian Kerr believes his Republic of Ireland fringe players will return to their clubs brimming with confidence after the impressive 1-0 victory over Holland.

A superb 45th-minute strike from Tottenham striker Robbie Keane, which took him to within one goal of Niall Quinn’s scoring record of 21, rounded off an encouraging run of four games in 10 days for Kerr’s squad, during which he felt that many of his younger players came of age.

Hearts defender Alan Maybury now has eight caps, Nottingham Forest’s Andy Reid has seven, Graham Barrett of Coventry has five and one more goal, while Cardiff striker Alan Lee has seven and Sheffield United’s Alan Quinn has nudged his way up to four.

All of those players could be needed during Ireland’s forthcoming World Cup 2006 qualifying campaign if injuries and suspensions rear their ugly heads, and if they are called upon they will be far more prepared for the task than they were when they assembled a fortnight ago.

“Any player who played in that match on our side will go back to his club for pre-season and feel more confident about himself – or at least they should do,” said Kerr after his team’s victory in the Amsterdam Arena of Ajax.

“I am more glad for the young players, the likes of Alan Quinn and Graham Barrett, who have had hard seasons in terms of making the breakthrough or having respect.

"Graham had a good end to the season at Coventry but he is very much a fringe player, yet you looked at him last night and he looked very much an international.

“Alan Lee missed a lot of the season because of injury but looked strong, and Andy Reid has moved on.

"Alan Maybury before these two weeks would have been seen to have been bashing away in Scotland without major respect, so it is fantastic for them and that’s how it should be.

“Reid played three games in this spell, Maybury played three and a half, Quinn played two and Barrett played two, they are the bonuses.”

If Kerr has a full squad to choose from come September, the likelihood is that only Reid has a realistic chance of figuring in the opening qualifying double header at home to Cyprus and away in Switzerland, as John O’Shea, Roy Keane, Kevin Kilbane and Damien Duff will all return.

At least Kerr also learnt some good lessons about his regular players, none more so than the fact that Newcastle’s Andy O’Brien is the man to partner skipper Kenny Cunningham at the heart of the defence.

Kerr added: “We’ll take a bit of time to absorb these games and the options for the future and come August and September we’ll have a few more options than we had, and a few more experienced options at that.

“We had one match in Dublin and three outside and they were all difficult in their own way because of the opposition, the surroundings and the apparent lack of depth of the squad. The style of last night’s performance is what we are looking for home and away.”

Kerr’s sentiments were echoed by some of those raw recruits who feel far better for the experience.

Reid said: “It was a great result, a great game and a brilliant experience to play in a place like this. It will be a big benefit for all of us. I’ve played in a few games now and it’s helped me a lot but I’ve just got to keep my head down and continue.”

Barrett said: “It was brilliant and without a doubt the highlight of my career so far. It was a wonderful experience to be involved in a game like that.

“Everyone has really helped me, especially the coaches and the senior players like Kenny Cunningham and Robbie Keane. I hope that I can now keep my place in the squad and develop from there because it has been a fantastic experience and I want more of it.

“It’s been a great week for me personally to get my first start, score a goal and get three caps. I’ve really enjoyed it and I’ve been made to feel very comfortable. Just being around people like Robbie and Kenny can help me to improve.

“It’s a step up from what I’m used to but it’s what I want to be involved with. I am so proud to be involved and I want it to continue.”

Keane looked to the future when he added: “It will help us for the France and Switzerland games because being able to get results like that is great.”