MICK MCCARTHY WAS glad that his Irish players were unaffected by the tennis ball protest that briefly interrupted play in the 33rd minute of tonight’s Euro 2020 qualifier win against Georgia. 

The manager had hoped that Irish fans would reserve any anti-FAI protests for away from tonight’s game, joking that he might bring a tennis racket if rumours that disgruntled supporters intended to chuck tennis balls onto the pitch came to pass. 

It did happen, and while play was briefly interrupted, it certainly didn’t affect Ireland who then immediately took the lead through Conor Hourihane’s stunning free-kick. 

“It was balls, wasn’t it?”, reflected the Irish manager at his post-match press conference. 

“I was concerned it would affect our concentration after our free-kick, if they break on us. I don’t know if it affected their concentration or not but it doesn’t matter what happened there was no stopping that free-kick.

“I don’t think it affected the game at all.

I think most fans have come in to watch the game and cheer on the team. I think they all did that, and some came into have a pop at the FAI and other things, and have a demonstration.

“Thankfully it’s not affected us and we’ve won two games.”

McCarthy admitted he hoped the protest wouldn’t go ahead…although he was prepared if it did.

“I thought they wouldn’t. Apparently, Paddy Power had odds on me getting hit on the head, so I turned around and thought if anyone throws one, I’m going to head it back so whoever bet on it would have won the money.”

Darren Randolph clears tennis balls from the Aviva pitch. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

As regards the actual football, McCarthy declared himself happy with his team’s performance. 

“There was a lot that pleased me tonight, individual performances; the all-round team performance, which I thought was excellent.

We’ve had a great week, working and training. We’ve stopped them from doing what they want to do. I thought we played some really good football. Conor Hourihane; the three midfielders were a different class, I thought. Didsy [McGoldrick] up front was excellent.

“Some good performances all over the place.” 

McCarthy elaborated on the performance of his goalscorer.

“I’m delighted, because his performance on Saturday was excellent. Tonight his deliveries his free-kicks and corners were good.

“The goal was something special, wasn’t it? I’m pleased for him because I’ve always believed in him and thought he was a good player. I tried to sign him but we didn’t have any money because he went elsewhere.” 

Elsewhere, the manager hailed the performance of Glenn Whelan as “absolutely remarkable”, and while he was proud his side continued to attack in the game’s final stages, it was tempered somewhat when James McClean’s decided to hang a cross into the box in stoppage time rather than keep hold of possession.

McCarthy with James McClean post-game. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

“Right til’ the last knockings…even James McClean crossing the ball when there’s two minutes left, and if you saw me embracing him, I told him, ‘I’ll effing kill you if you ever do that again.’

“Before I got to him, [he was] saying ‘I know, I know, gaffer’. I didn’t need to tell but I thought I’d tell him anyway.

“But he was excellent. He put a real shift in.” 

Switzerland and Denmark played out a thrilling 3-3 draw in the group’s other game, meaning that Ireland finish the second round of games top of the table, with two wins from two. 

As to whether that draw was a good result for Ireland, however, McCarthy refused to speculate. 

“Our result was a good result for us. 

“They might cut each other’s throats and we’ll get a couple of draws, who knows. But we have to play other teams and beat them, so it doesn’t bother me, I can’t affect what they do.”