| We’ll do it!  By
Phil Campion
Wexford’s Kevin Doyle believes qualification for next year’s
European Championships in Austria and Switzerland is still possible for
Ireland.
His headed goal against Slovakia kept Irish dreams alive and Stephen
Staunton in a job.
“We have given ourselves a chance,” said the Wexford man.
“By no means is it going to be easy and we have to win all our
remaining games but we have a chance now.“Before the Wales and Slovakia
games we said we needed to win two gamesbut we can’t stop going
now we have them.
“We need to win the rest of our home games and get a point from
the away games to qualify winning the home games is a must, maybe a point
away will be enough.” Staunton’s men know they have a lot
to do but must now wait over four months to show fans if their improved
performance against Slovakia was a signof things to come or a one-off.
Doyle said: “We don’t have a qualifier until September and
it takes the pressure off for a while. We can now look forward to a break
in the summer and come back fresh for the games.”The Reading frontman
found the lone striker role against Slovakia tough but the reward of a
goal at Croke Park was well worth it.
He said: “To score any goal for Ireland is brilliant but to score
at Croke Park
in front of Hill 16 is a great feeling and one I won’t forget for
a long time.“I think I started in an offside position for the cross
and I managed to get in front of the defender.“It was a great ball
in from Duffer and I didn’t even see the ball hit the net to be
honest I was on the ground. The crowd roared and itwas a great feeling
and it gave me a boost for the rest of the game.
“To score in front of the Hill I’ve been in it a few times
is a great feeling,” said Doyle after scoring his second international
goal. Staunton surprised the pundits by playing Doyle up-front alone with
Stephen Ireland behind him.
Ireland currently sit third in Group D level on points with Germany
and the Czech Republic although they have played more games.
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