NOBODY had to tell Mick McCarthy that there would be days like this. Yesterday saw the first stumble of his era and the first catcalls to sound out in his brave new world.
A weakened Iceland came to Lansdowne Road for some pre Christmas plundering and left with a draw in their pocket. Mission accomplished. For the Republic, meanwhile, the road to the World Cup in France two years hence looks that little bit more uneven.
Through expediency and a sense of tactical adventurousness, McCarthy has taken risks so far in his tenure. Yesterday the cards didn't fall right, and he found the home jury in impatient mood. The Irish players left the field with the sound of booing in their ears.
"I'm disappointed," said Mick McCarthy. "We wanted to win. We expected to win. We haven't played well on the day. I have to give the Icelandic coach credit. They defended well. That's it."
By common consent this was one of the most listless Irish displays in recent years. No blood and thunder. Plenty of thud and blunder. On a day when McCarthy's team shut down their account for the year, the dour stalemate betrayed the sense of youthful adventure which the new dispensation has brought.
A goalless draw against the whipping boys of the group unveiled a hitherto unsuspected set of problems. Without the electric jolt of an early score, Ireland struggled to be inventive and a visiting side of limited talent and good organisation found it easy to snuff them out.
"It's not like we had a great deal of chances that we missed today," said McCarthy ruefully. "If we went away from home to play a team supposedly better than us and defended like they did and came away with a point we'd be happy. We didn't pass with any real confidence.
By way of early novelty, Roy Keane showed up for the first time in an aeon and was granted absolution, if not a fatted calf, by a chilled home crowd grateful for any splash of colour on a monochrome day.
Keane, starting the day in defence and moving as needs changed to midfield, played well enough to leave with a Man of the Match award in his pocket. It was hoped that the trinket and the warm reception might encourage him to come back again. He will be needed in the games to come.
Yesterday's result leaves Ireland level on points with Macedonia at the top of the Group Eight World Cup qualifying table, but group favourites Romania have played fewer games, and on Saturday Macedonia hammered 11 goals past Liechtenstein to suggest some growing momentum in eastern Europe.
