Seamus Coleman hails Republic of Ireland’s young guns for grabbing play-off spot

Damian Spellman, PA

eamus Coleman has saluted the courage of his Republic of Ireland team-mates after they staged a magnificent comeback to rekindle their World Cup dream with victory in Hungary.

The 37-year-old Everton full-back played his part in a memorable 3-2 win in Budapest on Sunday which ensured Ireland’s place in March’s play-offs, something which looked beyond them when they took just a single point from their first three Group F qualifiers.

However, back-to-back victories over Armenia, Portugal and the Hungarians saw Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side claim the runners-up up spot in dramatic fashion at the Puskas Arena, where seven of the 16 men who took the field were aged 25 or under, including 23-year-old hat-trick hero Troy Parrott.

Coleman told reporters after the game: “The team has changed the opinions of a lot of people in the last week, and that’s what I wanted for them because they deserve it.

“It’s not easy, sometimes. Playing for Ireland is a privilege, we love it, but it comes with pressure and I’m delighted for them.

“I’m proud of the young lads. They had to take a bit of criticism. They were dead and buried after the first couple of games, so everyone thought.

“What a window. We talked about belief. Once you put this [shirt] on, you’ve got to believe and try to get that through to the group, and we did. The lads did amazingly.

“I’m just so happy for the younger lads, they fully deserved it.”

Coleman was not selected for the September window, during which Ireland scrapped their way to a 2-2 home draw with Hungary before a demoralising 2-1 defeat in Armenia, as he tried to fight his way back into the Everton team.

However, he was recalled last month and started all four remaining fixtures, demonstrating both his enduring quality and peerless leadership throughout.

He said: “After the first two games, I couldn’t foresee coming back to play a part in this.

“It hurt me a lot, but I’ve been hurt plenty of times up here. It’s about being professional and doing the right things. I’ve always believed in myself.

“Maybe if the Armenia game went a different way, you wouldn’t see me, so maybe selfishly, I had an opportunity to come back and show what I can do, so happy days.”

Coleman, a veteran of the Euro 2016 finals, will now have the chance to make it to the World Cup for the first time after Parrott’s stoppage-time winner in Hungary, although he is too experienced to get ahead of himself.

He said: “Listen, the boring side of me says enjoy now, but nothing is done yet. We want to get to the World Cup, but confidence is massive.

“It starts with belief, it starts with doing the right things as soon as you come into camp, it starts with not taking coming into camp for granted, training properly, respecting the people around you and believing.

“We’ve done that and we’re absolutely delighted.”