At this stage, it’s nearly hard to enjoy the Wes Hoolahan effect.
It’s nearly hard to enjoy his intricate passes, his silky footwork, his vision, his courage, his genius, because every time he does something so damn good and so damn beautiful, you’re hit over the head with this God awful reminder that he’s 34 years of age.
34.
And he’s played 32 times for his country. This is his first major tournament. This is really his first genuine campaign where a manager decided to use him for more than a bit of lip service.
This is the first time he’s being seen on a European stage and, 78 minutes later, Swedish journalists are frantically Google searching him, 81,000 football lovers are drooling over him, and Irish fans are rising to their feet to salute him off the field.
This is his first international tournament and he’s lighting the place up, making history nearly. This is his first tournament and he’s showing that he belongs here.
Sadly, it could be his last.
He’s not just the side’s most important player or the best best to watch or the ones you’d want the kids looking at and being inspired by. He’s a favourite amongst the team because he makes their jobs a hell of a lot easier. He’s a favourite because they know they need him and they know there’s none other like him. Not in Ireland anyway.
“He’s a very different player to what we have in the squad,” Seamus Coleman’s assessment of Hoolahan’s importance wasn’t understated. “He’s someone that links the play and gets in behind defences and makes great, intelligent passes. He’s a top lad and it’s great for Wes, the journey he’s been on, to show it on a European stage.”
For Robbie Brady though, it was bittersweet like it is for all us. You enjoy Hoolahan, you love it. Then you think where the hell has he been. What the hell have we done?
“He’s a class act and I’m over the moon for him,” Brady said of Ireland’s iconic number 20. “Nobody will be able to take that goal away from him. Man of the match performance as well.
“He was excellent, which he always is. He’s one of these lads you think he might get caught on the ball sometimes and he always just manages to come up with something to get himself out of it.
“He’s a joy to play with and it’s a joy to watch him play.
“It’s a shame to football, it’s a shame to Irish football especially, that he didn’t have that much time and people didn’t get to see him for more time. But he’s here now so I think people just need tune in and watch the best of him because he’s a top class player.
“It’s very important [that he’s fit for the next game]. He looks after himself, he’s in unbelievable shape and he seems to be getting better with age. There’s no doubt that he’ll be ready to go again. If he puts in another performance like he did today, it will do us nothing but good.”
Ireland play Belgium on Saturday in Bordeaux at 2pm Irish time.
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