File photo of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy. Reuters
File photo of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy. Reuters
File photo of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy. Reuters
File photo of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy. Reuters

Mick McCarthy's strange Ireland exit can't be termed a success or a failure


Richard Jolly
  • English
  • Arabic

Mick McCarthy has forged a reputation as a straight talker, often with an idiosyncratic turn of phrase that betrays his Yorkshire roots. He was being unusually diplomatic, therefore, when he described his removal as Republic of Ireland manager as “bittersweet”.

The sweet element of it is harder to identify but perhaps McCarthy was merely showing a sense of perspective. Others have suffered more from the coronavirus outbreak and, as he noted, Denmark coach Age Hareide is in the same situation.

Each was due to stand down after Euro 2020, with a replacement already arranged. But then Euro 2020 became Euro 2021. Ireland may or may not be in it. McCarthy’s first reign will be remembered for Saipan, for the bust-up that led to Roy Keane’s explosive exit from the World Cup. His second is less controversial and less conclusive.

It is a product in part of Ireland’s strange succession planning. Stephen Kenny, the highly-rated former Dundalk manager was in charge of the Under-21s and always due to take over in August. Now his tenure includes a play-off semi-final against Slovakia; potentially two major tournaments in as many summers, maybe none.

McCarthy’s sometimes unfair reputation as a pragmatist meant he never had the sheen of a long-term or ambitious appointment. Nor, indeed, did the football belie that image. Ireland only lost once in a pool including two teams who reached the World Cup’s last 16, in Switzerland and Denmark, but only scored seven goals in eight games, despite playing two of them against Gibraltar.

Kenny brings the promise of a more progressive brand of play that could finally elevate Irish football beyond kick and rush, graft with precious little craft. “I disagree with the viewpoint that we have to play in a direct style because it suits our DNA as a nation,” the new manager told the Athletic in December.

McCarthy’s Ireland were direct. In his defence, Ireland’s rearguard was greater than the sum of its parts. Only Ukraine, Turkey and Belgium conceded fewer goals in qualifying.

Stephen Kenny replaces Mick McCarthy as Ireland manager. PA
Stephen Kenny replaces Mick McCarthy as Ireland manager. PA

He was working with what may be the least gifted group of players a small country has had in at least four decades. There was no Keane, whether Roy or Robbie; no Liam Brady, Paul McGrath, Damien Duff, Andy Townsend, Kevin Sheedy, Ray Houghton or David O’Leary.

Instead, McCarthy, who has made to make the most of limited resources in his club career, had a familiar challenge. “I think I'm leaving Stephen with a healthy balance,” he said.

In one respect, he did not prioritise his successor. Perhaps, though, he could not. There was nothing futuristic in bringing back Glenn Whelan at 35 but it is worrying how few of Ireland’s premier players are under 28.

McCarthy’s always felt a transitional appointment and, in a sense, Ireland have been waiting. In Aaron Connolly, 20, Michael Obafemi, 19, and Troy Parrott, 18, they have three young forwards who may yet offer a goal-shy side added incision, but given their ages, their combined tally of four caps reflects the reality Kenny, not McCarthy, could become the first manager to benefit from their talents.

The realist in McCarthy may think that, in an era of reduced resources, perhaps the Irish FA could not afford to pay both him and Kenny for another 12 months. In a generous statement, he said: “It’s been brilliant; I’ve loved being back.”

The strange nature of his exit means he was neither success nor failure this time around. But, unglamorous as he feels, he probably ranks second only to Jack Charlton ever among Ireland managers, above the more decorated pair of Giovanni Trapattoni and Martin O’Neill. His second spell did not diminish that standing, despite the inconclusive ending.

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Key facilities
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2.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,600m; Winner: Talento Puma, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.

3pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,950m; Winner: Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.

3.30pm: Jebel Ali Stakes Listed (TB) Dh500,000 1,950m; Winner: Mark Of Approval, Patrick Cosgrave, Mahmood Hussain.

4pm: Conditions (TB) Dh125,000 1,400m; Winner: Dead-heat Raakez, Jim Crowley, Nicholas Bachalard/Attribution, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.

4.30pm: Jebel Ali Sprint (TB) Dh500,000 1,000m; Winner: AlKaraama, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.

5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,200m; Winner: Wafy, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.

5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,400m; Winner: Cachao, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.

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7.05pm Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m

7.40pm Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (Turf) 2,410m

8.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,900m

8.50pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial (TB) Conditions Dh183,650 (D) 1,600m

9.25pm Dubai Trophy (TB) Conditions Dh183,650 (T) 1,200m

10pm Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (T) 1,400m

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Name: Kumulus Water
 
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Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
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Results

4.30pm Jebel Jais – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (Turf) 1,000m; Winner: MM Al Balqaa, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Qaiss Aboud (trainer)

5pm: Jabel Faya – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (T) 1,000m; Winner: AF Rasam, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

5.30pm: Al Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: AF Mukhrej, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

6pm: The President’s Cup Prep – Conditions (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Mujeeb, Richard Mullen, Salem Al Ketbi

6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club – Prestige (PA) Dh125,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Antonio Fresu, Abubakar Daud

7pm: Al Ruwais – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Ashton Tourettes, Pat Dobbs, Ibrahim Aseel

7.30pm: Jebel Hafeet – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Nibraas, Richard Mullen, Nicholas Bachalard

Overview

What: The Arab Women’s Sports Tournament is a biennial multisport event exclusively for Arab women athletes.

When: From Sunday, February 2, to Wednesday, February 12.

Where: At 13 different centres across Sharjah.

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Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

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The stats

Ship name: MSC Bellissima

Ship class: Meraviglia Class

Delivery date: February 27, 2019

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Passenger capacity: 5,686

Crew members: 1,536

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Sundar Pichai

Chief executive, Google and Alphabet

Satya Nadella

Chief executive, Microsoft

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President and chief executive, Mastercard

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Chief executive, chairman, and president, Adobe

Indra Nooyi  

Board of directors, Amazon and former chief executive, PepsiCo

 

 

Who has been sanctioned?

Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.

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Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.

Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.

Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.

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He became the first Emirati to climb Mount Everest in 2011, from the south section in Nepal

He ascended Mount Everest the next year from the more treacherous north Tibetan side

By 2015, he had completed the Explorers Grand Slam

Last year, he conquered K2, the world’s second-highest mountain located on the Pakistan-Chinese border

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Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.

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Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.

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Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.

Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.

Source: American Paediatric Association
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The biog

Family: Parents and four sisters

Education: Bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing at American University of Sharjah

A self-confessed foodie, she enjoys trying out new cuisines, her current favourite is the poke superfood bowls

Likes reading: autobiographies and fiction

Favourite holiday destination: Italy

Posts information about challenges, events, runs in other emirates on the group's Instagram account @Anagowrunning

Has created a database of Emirati and GCC sportspeople on Instagram @abeermk, highlight: Athletes

Apart from training, also talks to women about nutrition, healthy lifestyle, diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Cast: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed

Rating: 1.5/5

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