WORLD CUP 2002: Their day's rest behind them, the Irish players settled back into training yesterday although with spirits still high in the wake of Wednesday's dramatic draw against Germany and many limbs still aching the hard work was put off for at least another day.

Seven players sat the session out with the likes of Gary Breen, Steve Staunton and Matt Holland all still feeling the after-effects of a tough night's work in Ibaraki. Others to sit out the afternoon's session were Jason McAteer, Mark Kinsella, Steve Finnan and Shay Given all of whom have problems predating the Germany game.

However, the message from their manager is that everybody will be available by the time the team takes the field at Yokohama next Tuesday needing a 2-0 win over the Saudis to be sure of qualifying for the knockout stages.

While those carrying knocks took things easy the rest of the squad had one of their occasional Gaelic football kick-abouts and, who knows, perhaps a star was born.

"I never played that sport before," beamed Clinton Morrison afterwards, "but everybody says I'm a natural so I might give it a go." The Crystal Palace striker was asked whether he felt he should be given a chance to show what he can do without his hands next week but didn't rise to the bait.

"Nah, I've just got to wait for my time. Of course I'm disappointed not to get a piece of the action but it's a team game and Robbie and Duffer are on fire. Quinny, he's a leader, the Germans couldn't handle him and he got the flick on for the goal so he was the right man to send on. Mick's got to stick with the guys who got him this far, doesn't he? After that, if he does want to make changes I'm always available."

Generally it's hard to imagine McCarthy being in tune with his young striker on just about anything but the manager certainly seemed intent yesterday on sticking with Duff and Keane for the team's final group match.

While full of praise for the contribution made by Quinn following his introduction late on in the game, the Ireland manager insisted that he was also very pleased with the way the younger pair have been performing together and made it fairly clear that he feels meddling with Ireland's attack might prove to be a major mistake.

"We may have only scored one goal in each of the games but we've created a lot of chances and I've been happy with the way the lads have done up front," he said yesterday. "Sometimes you can look to change something like that and just end up completely muddying the waters. I think Niall gives us a great option if we're having problems but I don't think it's the approach to take from the start."

Asked if he felt that the Saudis might throw in the towel against his side now that their own hopes of reaching the second round have been ended he said that he could only imagine how he would react to being in Nasser Al-Johar's position. "I know if we'd been given a bit of a tonking I'd be saying to the lads that I didn't fancy going home with no points. So no," he added, "I don't think they'll make it easy at all for us."

What was important, he insisted, was that Wednesday's late equaliser had given the team a firm chance of progressing. "If Germany had ended up with six points, Cameroon four and us one then we'd have had problems. Now, at least, everybody has something to play for."

An Irish win, of course, would present new dilemmas and logistical problems for the huge travelling support that the team has enjoyed during its first two games here but McCarthy seems confident that the fans will find their way to Korea next week if needs be.

"It's been a bit sad actually because we understand that it's buzzing back home, a real carnival atmosphere but from 7,000 miles or whatever away it's a little hard to get a sense of it. But the ones that are here have provided a little bit of it.

"They do everywhere we go, don't they. I'd have to say we were very surprised when we realised for the first time how many of them were in Niigata and then it was the same in Ibaraki. The players were all standing around marvelling at where they must come from, where they got their tickets and how they got here."

So far, none of the fans are complaining about having gone to all the trouble.

Club officials at Shelbourne and St Patrick's Athletic are on the brink of agreeing the terms of a deal aimed at resolving the long-running dispute over the eircom League title. Under the terms of the agreement the Inchicore club, which was docked 15 points by the league after it was found to have played Ugandan international Mbabazi five times while he was improperly registered, will receive some official recognition for their achievement of having earned the most points over the course of their 33 games but their rivals will be confirmed officially as champions.

The players are likely to receive medals and the FAI may help the club with its proposed development work at Richmond Park by advancing some of the money it is due in grant aid and prize-money. If confirmed the deal would avoid the need for arbitration and the possibility of court action over the dispute which has been rumbling on since St Patrick's were originally deducted nine points for playing the then unregistered Paul Marney.