Mick McCarthy: 'We want to qualify, if its by trail blazing or by hanging in'

Dylan O'Connell reports from Telia Parken, Copenhagen

Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy cut a defiant figure following his sides 1-1 draw away to Denmark in Copenhagen.

“You couldn’t have asked for much more” Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy reflected on the result.

“It was a very good game. We were still going at the 94^th minute and looking for a winner”

Summing up the result, McCarthy was full of praise for goal scorer Shane Duffy.

From commanding the defence to heading in the equaliser, the Brighton defender was the subject to much praise from the Irish manager.

“If you get deliveries like that on big Duffy’s head he is going to score. He gets the blocks in, he organizes defences and he can show it going forward”

Despite this momentary praise, Mick McCarthy was grounded as he now turns to Monday’s home qualifier against Gibraltar.

“It’s about what I can take about my team” he admitted through all of this.

“After a setback they fought back. There is a fighting spirit that the Irish team which we have in abundance.

“I’m not looking at a statement. I’m doing my Dad job and telling them to enjoy this, but remember they have a game on Monday”

Bearing the task that is Gibraltar at the Aviva Stadium; a side who have never even gathered a point against the Irish, Mick McCarthy admitted to tunnel vision towards the end goal of European qualification.

“We can only play the teams in front of us and get the results that we can. We want to qualify. If its by trail blazing or by hanging in, as long as we qualifY."