McCarthy delighted to bring his Wolves side to Wexford for ‘special night’

Ireland can defeat France and progress through play off

Wolves’ boss Mick McCarthy has said that the role League of Ireland clubs play in the development of Irish players who start their career in the domestic league before moving to the UK deserves to be highlighted.

McCarthy was speaking ahead of his Wolverhampton Wanderers side’s visit to Ferrycarrig Park to face Wexford Youths FC next Monday as part of the deal that saw Irish international Kevin Doyle move to Molineux from Reading during the summer, with tickets still available for the game on www.tickets.ie, and he acknowledged the beneficial role the League of Ireland and Doyle’s underage playing days with the Wexford county side, managed by Mick Wallace, has had on the club’s record signing.

“We’ve had some good success with bringing players in from Ireland, and it’s always important to give something back to the clubs that have helped produce these players,” McCarthy, who signed Stephen Ward from Bohemians and young goalkeeper Aaron McCarey from Monaghan United last month, said.

“Although we bought Kevin in from Reading he was a player who initially made his name in the League of Ireland and also played underage for Wexford. It may be a long way down the line in Kevin’s career since he played for Wexford and indeed in the League of Ireland, but their part in his development was very important.

“It was part of our deal to bring Kevin in that we would go over and play a friendly thanks to his association with Mick Wallace, and it’s something Kevin particularly wanted to do.

“We are delighted to be able to go over and play this friendly, and it will be the first team squad making the trip for the game. It will be a very special night for Kevin and we’re all looking forward to the game.”

The former Republic of Ireland manager, who was in charge of Ireland at the 2002 World Cup when the country qualified for its last major tournament, believes that the play off draw against France may not be as daunting as a lot of people think.

“I looked at the fixtures and I have to be honest - I’d sooner be going to France in the second leg than going to Portugal, Russia or Greece,” McCarthy admitted.

“If they can keep a clean sheet in Ireland I’d be happier going to France than going to Greece with the atmosphere there, or Russia, possibly playing on a plastic pitch, or Portugal, who I’ve seen playing in the last three games and probably shouldn’t have ended up in the play-offs. I wouldn’t be so negative about playing France, and they did finish second in the group remember.”

McCarthy believes Ireland can reach next year’s World Cup and reflected on his own experiences in the play offs and feels that the second leg away trips he endured as a manager in the play offs were very difficult.

“Ireland have never had an away leg first, not since I can remember. Belgium at home, Belgium away, Turkey at home, Turkey away, Iran at home, Iran away. They don’t come much harder than that in the last game – Turkey and Iran away.

“I think they can do it, because they are hard to beat and Trapattoni has got a list of successes as long as my arm and my leg put together. There’s every chance they can do it because they’ve got good players and they’ll have the belief.”

Wexford Youths FC face Wolverhampton Wanderers at Ferrycarrig Park on Monday, 2nd November at 7.30pm with tickets available on www.tickets.ie for this unique game and the return of Kevin Doyle.

For further information please contact:
James Phelan - jamebo38@yahoo.ie or
Greg Keane (Wolves game only) Keane.Greg@Gmaill.com

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