The great people of Ireland, along with millions around the globe who hail from, have connections with, or just have a love for the “Emerald Isle”, are waking up this morning sad in the knowledge that there will be no Republic of Ireland at next Summer’s FIFA World Cup Finals.

The Republic have missed out after failing to beat Switzerland at Landsdowne Road on Wednesday, though of course the damage was done before that, a long time before that, I might suggest. Brian Kerr has done his dignified best to steer Ireland’s very able group of players towards the promised land, but has just missed out.

Of course there are many reasons why any team might fail to achieve their goals, but without wishing to do down Brian Kerr, who did his utmost, it has to be said with a sometimes depleted team, he perhaps lacked the experience of the big time. When one asks oneself, why the FAI appointed Kerr? One can’t help remembering Roy Keane”s bust up with the then Irish manager Mick McCarthy.

It seems that as a result of this, Keane may have insisted that Ireland only appointed a man born in Ireland. If this is the case, then Keane has done Ireland a great disservice.

In the modern age it is commonplace for coaches of International teams to be from elsewhere. England for example have a manager from Sweden, Portugal from Brazil, and Greece still have their German Euro 2004 winning coach, Otto Rehaghel, to name but a few.

Has Keane let out-dated bigotry interfere with Ireland’s best interests, and ultimately scupper their chances?

That will be for him to decide, but I don’t think their would have been to many complaints from fans, had Ireland Secured their place at the top table, under the stewardship of, say a Mick McCarthy, a man of obvious Irish decent, or anyone else for that matter.

History won’t forget Keane’s influence as a player, but it might, for his sake, forget his influence on Ireland’s progress as a football Nation. With Irelands future ranking and seeding bound to suffer too, has Keane’s attitude cost his country dear?

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