'You've got to play cat and mouse'

The Players: Gavin Cummiskey finds Paul McShane taking the whole thing in his stride

Nobody wants to overhype a young player, but for this morning at least that is unavoidable with Paul McShane. Two years ago the giant frame of Jan Koller came to Lansdowne Road and devoured Paul Butler, also making his Ireland debut. It lasted 45 minutes and Butler hasn't been seen in green since.

Because of a chronic injury list, McShane was parachuted into a makeshift back four last night. As the senior player, John O'Shea initially took responsibility for shadowing Koller. Yet, by the second ball in, the former Manchester United youth team player had replaced his more established colleague in the onerous task.

The crowd decibels went up a notch each time McShane pushed Koller deeper into his pocket or Stephen Kelly broke up the incessant Czech probing down his left flank. Karel Bruckner had certainly done his homework, but few expected these two characters to produce such assured performances.

"It was like a normal game," said McShane in such a relaxed tone we actually believed him.

"Koller is a big bloke and you've got to realise he is going to win some of his headers so you've got to play cat and mouse with him. Baros as well - he's been around so it was a good experience and I enjoyed it."

The obvious topic was "pride". Restoration of this vital commodity was certainly achieved in what can only be described as a sea change from the nightmare that was Nicosia.

Now all Steve Staunton requires is that other essential Irish ingredient, luck.

"It was a good start," continued McShane. "The team got a lot of stick during the week and they have done brilliant tonight, but we should have got the win. They are disappointed lads in there because we are in here to win games.

"We've got to let the country know that we give it all in every game and it is just disappointing we couldn't get the win. It was disappointing and no Irish team has ever played like that before. We got to stand up and hold our hands up, but the sort of stick the lads went through was a bit over the top. They came out today and gave it their all. That's what Irish teams are known for, to show commitment and pride."

McShane even sidestepped the obvious. When asked how he handled the increased pace of international football he replied: "Yeah, the pace is higher, but I think the concentration is much more important because teams can get on that. In the Cyprus game there was a bit of a lack of concentration at the back and we suffered for that. Tonight the concentration was there, but it was unfortunate not to come away with the win."

McShane's GAA background was dropped into the mix. His father, Seán, was a Dublin hurler and his great grandfather is the great Bob Mockler.

"Yeah he (Dad) is here tonight. My family are more a Gaelic family and a few of them are here tonight. They support me everywhere I go. They go over to England as much as they can."

Now for an exclusive: Irish goalscorer injured by team-mates in mass celebration. Kevin Kilbane made a beeline for the bench after caressing home his sixth international goal, but as a result he was hauled ashore before the finish. Someone nearly blinded him in the celebratory scrum.

"Yeah, I have lost a bit of vision," smiled Kilbane. "It happened during the celebration when someone poked me in the eye. I can't really see. It was a great performance as we let ourselves, the manager, the supporters and everyone watching at home down badly in Cyprus . . . but it is still very disappointing that we couldn't get the win."