Captain humble basks in the honour

Ah yes, just what you need when you have one last chance to convince Mick McCarthy that you'd be a useful inclusion on that list of 23 World Cup-bound players - a pitch of marsh-like qualities to demonstrate your skills. Give him a ball and a yard of swamp? What can he do, except struggle to remain vertical.

Rory Delap, Andy O'Brien, Colin Healy, Steven Reid and Gary Doherty? What could they do? Before the deluge, it was difficult enough staking their claim (after all, no matter how faulty the calculator, 25 or 26 into 23 does not go), but after? "Puddles all over the place," as Healy put it.

Captain Gary Breen had sympathy for the players chasing those final two or three places, trying to press their case in those conditions, but was particularly thrilled for Doherty who capped his international comeback with a goal - one that completed a happy week after he returned for Spurs six months after breaking his leg - a goal that saw to it that Breen marked his memorable night with a victory.

"It was very humbling experience, captaining my country," said Breen. "And it was a great honour to lead those particular lads. I was delighted for Gary, especially when you consider what he's been through these past few months.

"He'll make it more difficult for Mick now, hopefully he can put in a few more games for Spurs and, who knows, he might get in the back door. I thought Andy (O'Brien) did very well too, it shows how much strength in depth we have now, plenty of cover for most positions."

Would you like to be in Mick's shoes, making all these difficult decisions? "Yeah, because I could pick myself. It will be difficult for him, picking the squad, but I don't think he'll have any worries, he knows his best squad and he knows his best team."

Meanwhile, Kevin Kilbane was singing the praises of another of the World Cup squad 'maybes'.

"I've been impressed with Colin Healy since he came into the squad - he looks strong, he plays like that every day in training, he's very physical, he goes for every ball, he's whole-hearted and he's a good passer as well. His overall game is very impressive."

So, it's times like this then when Mick McCarthy has to start thinking hard about those final names, and starts earning his money.

Players like can only provide answers on the pitch; players like Healy who stays solid, and stays in the mix for the last nod.

"Well, I thought I did alright out there," he nodded. "We won 2-1 and that's the important thing, but the pitch definitely wasn't the best, and it was hard to play on that. Overall, though, I thought it was a good performance. There were poodles all over the place and the ball kept getting stuck. But I though we got stronger in the second half."

But what did McCarthy think: Any feedback from the boss on the night?

"Well, no. He's just been telling me to go out there and enjoy these games. And just to keep ticking over in training and keep working hard.

"But I just don't really know at the moment. I've only been involved now for the last three games, and I have been enjoying it now."

Also in the mix is Clinton Morrison, and although his appearance last night was far more passing, he too can look forward to few sleepless nights yet.

"All I know is I just have to keep carrying on doing what I'm doing, and keep training and playing the way I am. But I think Mick is happy with that and I hoping now that I'll be in that panel that makes it on to the plane."

Shay Given says now is when McCarthy earns his real money, and sitting down to name the final panel is one job he couldn't imagine.

"It's the hardest job in the world right now. But tonight everyone did their best in those conditions and it was great to get that winning goal."