‘Paul was like a piece of old teak. He was a very tough lad. I don’t think people realised how hard he could be if riled.’
So raved Paul McGrath’s teammate Shaun Teale of his time at Aston Villa. ‘The Black Pearl of Inchicore’ was a classy operator at the best and worst of times but he had no problem flinging his body on the line.
If there was a last-ditch tackle to make, a shot to be blocked, a Baggio to harass, you didn’t have to ask McGrath twice. You didn’t have to ask him at all.
Few Irish defenders sum up the ‘zero compromise’ attitude that has led to to World Cups and European Championships. Ranking Irish centre-halves who epitomised the attitude is a tough yet enjoyable task.
5. Shane Duffy
We’ll get the contentious call out of the way first. Shane Duffy’s Ireland career is in its infancy but he has already impressed those around him with his marshalling, tough tackling and by the sheer menace in his voice.
The Derry native was, at 18, already training with Ireland’s senior squad when he was involved in a collision with goalkeeper Adrian Walsh that left him with a life-threatening liver laceration. He required emergency surgery and was expected to be out for at least four months. He was playing again in 10 weeks.
Earlier in the season, with his Blackburn team deadlocked at 0-0 and down to 10 men, Duffy stepped up and rattled home a beauty.
There was no way he was not going home without all three points.
Romelu, Graziano & co. had better watch their heels, and eardrums.
4. Kevin Moran
Has one player ever put his body on the line so frequently for the Irish cause? If so, we want to meet the man.
Brought up hardy as they come from his GAA days with Dublin, Moran went straight into the Manchester United team and added some steel to their backline. The first man to ever be sent off in an F.A Cup final, Moran did not receive a winners’ medal until many years after that 1985 game.
His finest game in the green jersey was alongside Mick McCarthy in the 1-0 win over England at Euro ’88. Determined to leave his mark on as many Englishmen as possible and preserve the sanctity of the Irish goal.
3. Paul McGrath
The former Manchester United and Villa man is ranked three because Jack Charlton had a tendency to play him in midfield in his early years with Ireland.
It was only as other defenders retired and replacements failed to bed in that he turned to the Dubliner. In the twilight of his playing career, McGrath slotted into the back four and struck up a superb partnership with Phil Babb.
“He was an exceptional player,” said Charlton. “You could play him anywhere on the field and he’d do a job for you.” As for the Americans, they bloody well loved him:
2. Richard Dunne
The hero of Moscow, ‘The Honey Monster’ was as uncompromising as they come.
Loved a hearty tackle almost as much as winning headers he had no right to. Dunne may hold the Premier League record for most own goals but he surely walked whatever accolade they give out for most balls deposited in Row Z.
Picked up by Everton from Home Farm, Dunne made a name for himself with Manchester City. The Tallaght man made 80 caps for Ireland, appeared at World Cup 2002 and Euro 2012, and chipped in with eight goals – most of them with his nut.
His most memorable game in the green jersey was in the inspirational rear-guard action that earned Ireland a point against Russia in less than hospitable Moscow.
Heroic.
1. Mick McCarthy
Born and raised in Barnsley, ‘Captain Fantastic’ literally bled for Ireland, and broke his nose for them a heap of times.
McCarthy made his debut in 1984, against Poland. It was a goalless draw. Of course it was.
Cajoling and cursing his men from the centre of defence, McCarthy was instrumental in Ireland becoming a stingy outfit and making every single team fight their ass off to get the ball past, or near, Packie Bonner’s goal.
He started all three games at Euro 88 and lumped into any man that dared attack our goal at Italia ’90. Without McCarthy we may never have reached the promised land before we did it all over again.
All great men with zero hint of compromise.
Each of them would love this class McGrath-led Euro 2016 tune.
