"Repeat, please, repeat," asked the Saudi reporter, who was struggling with his tape recorder. "Well," said Stephen Elliott, for the second time, "first one I just saw Willo (Flood) making a break down the right, I just took a chance that he'd hit it near-post, so I just made a dart there and it ended up coming right at me - I was lucky enough that it was a good finish in the bottom corner." Silence.

"Repeat, please." "Em. Willo put in a great ball and . . . I scored." If the Saudi reporter had asked Elliott to describe the goal for the fourth time he probably wouldn't have minded. He's a modest young fella, but he might well be tempted to tell his mates about it - and his second goal - well into his retirement ("Did I mention the time I scored twice for Ireland in the opening 2003 World Youth Cup game against Saudi Arabia?").

"It's all you could want in your first game. Everybody was a bit nervous but I thought all the lads were brilliant and we well deserved the victory," he said.

How many have you scored for Ireland this year? "Em, dunno," he said, having lost count. "Got one for the under-19s, against Slovakia, three for the under-21s against Poland, and two against Saudi Arabia - six." Not bad? "It's alright," he said, smiling.

Were you talking to the family? "I was, yeah, rang them straight after the game. Delighted for me - they were watching it on Eurosport."

Where are you from, Stephen? "Santry now, but originally from the inner city, Portland Close, so they'll be happy for me too."

What strikers do you admire, Stephen? "Em, I don't know - any strikers that score goals."

This lad will go far. A view shared by his manager, Gerry Smith, who had experienced his first competitive victory since succeeding Brian Kerr in the job earlier this year.

"He's a great fella, he just has that natural instinct, knowing where the goal is," said Smith. "He's a fella who's going to go a long, long way in football, unless I'm looking at the wrong game - all he needs is a break and a little bit of luck. He's a smashing guy, smashing.

"They were all fantastic, every one of them worked their butt off, there was a fair pace to it."

Was it hairy at times? "Ah no, I was as cool as a cucumber," he grinned. "But look, I'd have bought that result at nine o'clock this morning. We were very worried about this game because everyone - I don't know why - had been talking down Saudi Arabia. I couldn't understand that - any team that beats Argentina has to be a good side.

"We're happy, three points in the bag, just getting ready for the Ivory Coast now, another tough one. Based on what I saw of them against Mexico they're a good side, strong, quick all round the park, won't be easy." Is it important to have Brian Kerr here? - Kerr was the first to congratulate Smith at the final whistle on Saturday. "Very important, yeah, excellent, why wouldn't it be?"

"Ah yeah, it's a nice boost to have him here," said Elliott. "Brian just wished us all the best before the game, came down for a few minutes, it's nice to have him here," he said, pointing to the training pitch, where Kerr was chatting to some of the players.

"I think we're a good enough team to go far in this competition," said Elliott. "We've got great players in the squad - I think teams will find it hard to live with us if we're on a roll. We'll see. Happy enough so far, though."