'This is a proud moment for me and my family'
Ireland Interim manager John O’Shea celebrates the winning goal as his side defeated Hungary in their International Friendly at the Aviva Stadium. Photos: Inpho/Morgan Treacy.
Waterford native John O’Shea, who was capped 118 times for his country and one of the most decorated players to play the game, tasted his first success an interim manager of the Republic of Ireland Senior Men’s team this week with a 2-1 win over Hungary at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday last.
O’Shea, who took over the position as interim boss following the departure of Stephen Kenny, watched on as goals from Adam Idah and an injury-time winner from substitute Troy Parrott ensured the win on home soil as Ireland will take on Portugal in a second International friendly on Tuesday night.
With the FAI still on the hunt for a permanent replacement for Kenny, the former Manchester United league winner did his credentials no harm whatsoever tasting victory as Irish manager for a first-time in just three attempts in front of a home crowd.
Commenting after the game, O’Shea: “I was born in Waterford born, I’m managing Ireland, and we’ve won a game in my third game in charge. The special thing for me is that the group won, and that’s what matters the most.
“The feeling you get when you win a match for your country as a manager is incredible. Thinking back to being a young lad growing up in Waterford, thinking of the days I had as an Ireland player, this is a proud moment for me and my family.
“We’ve played Belgium and Switzerland, who are two really good teams. We’ve played Hungary, who were unbeaten in 14 games going into the game tonight and we’ve beaten them. I’m super proud of all the staff, the backroom staff, but most importantly the players.
“They put in the dedication and application. Yes we should be better and we can be better and we will be better. I think that we should enjoy this one, but remember also of the challenge that we’re going to have to face against Portugal.”
“I said to the players beforehand that the mindset was to beat Hungary whatever way we could. They did that. They showed great desire. We found a way. To see the team dig deep and fight, to find a way to win, I’m delighted with that.
“We played better against Belgium and Switzerland, were better with the ball but we showed an application and hunger to hang in and stay in the game and win. If we had been more streetwise we'd have created more chances, the details of our passing was not to the level against Belgium and Switzerland so that's something to work on.
"The big thing for me was that we caused them problems at different stages, and we would have caused them a lot more problems with a bit more care. You have a nervousness about the time of year, in terms of the fitness of players, as players have been off for three or four weeks, but they’ve got the job done.”
