Hammers keeper Darren Randolph helps Republic of Ireland qualify for Euro 2016

With qualification for Euro 2016 in the bag, the Republic of Ireland assistant manager was in positive form when he met the media today.

A video has emerged online of McClean kneeling down, while warming up on the touchline, so as not to obscure a fan’s footage of Walter’s first half penalty.

The Norwich City full-back set up Jonathan Walters’ second goal with a brilliant curling free-kick from the left with 20 minutes remaining. We got there in the end, we did it the hard way, but we got there. “It is textbook stuff as you often see players when that chance comes up in a big worldwide take a slice at it, it does not come off for them and it goes over the bar, but he was textbook”.

IT IS EXACTLY two years since Roy Keane agreed to join Martin O’Neill’s managerial team and the former Ireland captain says it has been everything he had hoped for. Ciaran Clark and and Richard Keogh also had strong games. These next few months, certainly after Christmas, in the lead-up to France, players do need to play. We got the [first] goal and we defended really well. I’ve stepped up to the plate.

“Definitely Ireland teams in the past have never done it the easy way ever but to go and capitalise on the results we have had in the last while is unbelievable”.

Norwich midfielder Robbie Brady provided the free-kick which led to Walters’ second goal, his delivery cleared by a defender only as far as the Stoke striker at the far post.

“You grow up wanting to be in these tournaments and now I can’t wait”, he told the official site.

“I’m so proud of everyone involved”.

Following the game, O’Neill said that, for all his decisions in relation to selection, picking Keane as his deputy was best. “He’s been absolutely enormous for us”.

In midfield we were solid and with Hoolahan anxious at all times to get on the ball, Bosnia had much more to think about defensively themselves than they had on home turf in Zenica.

Michael O’Neill’s side made it to the finals after topping their group, while Martin O’Neill’s team saw off Bosnia-Herzegovina to reach France via the playoffs. I think they are different types of enjoyment.

“If they hold me in any sort of regard, it’s minuscule by the comparison to the esteem I hold them in – they’ve been fantastic”.

He said: “It was just a special night”.

He had a cheeky response to the suggestion that we could be placed in the same group as the current world champions: “Germany obviously won’t be a problem, we’ll take care of them”.