STEPHEN HUNT, it is now undoubtedly confirmed, is an honest man and a rare breed of footballer. From a reporter’s perspective he is like manna from heaven on a slow news day.
Earlier this week, in the black hole between the Italy match and last night’s irrelevant fixture, he gave Eamon Dunphy, amongst others, a tongue lashing. The attack on Dunphy’s bad cop routine forced a subtle retraction from the Al Capone of sports pundits, via the medium of radio.
“You got enough from me the other day,” said Hunt when asked to stall after last night’s snooze-fest. Ah, go on Stephen (with bottle of champagne under his arm. We presumed it was for the man-of-the-match award but someone was cute enough to ask if it was a peace offering).
“Okay.” An honest, industrious winger, the man is a gentleman off the pitch. Slight problem. What do you ask, even a free-speaking character like Hunt amidst the purgatory of last night. The result was irrelevant and November’s play-off opponents will not be revealed until Monday.
Undefeated throughout the campaign, the Republic of Ireland almost did a number on Italy (twice), so what is the next step to make you lot a winning team?
“To be successful we have to qualify. That is the only way I can see it. I think we have come on massively in the two years since he’s (Giovanni Trapattoni) been here. I don’t think anyone can disagree with that. We have ended up in the play-offs after looking dead and buried in the last campaign.”
Any side in particular you would like to get your teeth into?
“Whoever comes our way it will be a special occasion to be involved in. We’ll only enjoy it if we get through. That’s the main aim.”
Home or away in the first leg?
“It depends on the scoreline. If it is a nil-nil then it could be a nervous Croke Park coming back here or one-nil up. One-nil behind and we have to go for it. If we (need a goal) they will be behind us.
“Personally, I’d prefer the first leg at home and then put the pressure on them in their home ground in the second game.”
With Aiden McGeady lurking and Damien Duff back playing, did Stephen Hunt do enough last night to remain on the wing for what comes next?
“Don’t know. I gave the ball away a few times with some sloppy balls but also had a few good runs. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t. I don’t know.
Seán St Ledger became a household name in Irish sport for all of three minutes last Saturday night. Enough dust has settled to ask him his take on those hero-to-villain moments.
“At the time I wasn’t thinking about making history,” said St Ledger. “I was thinking about getting three points and hopefully winning the group. I suppose it (Italy’s equaliser) did steal my thunder a bit but I wasn’t worried about that. I’m just a defender. I’d rather keep a clean sheet than score goals.”
St Ledger has quickly become Richard Dunne’s long-term defensive partner and he kept one of those clean sheets last night. Two more required in November.
