James McClean was not lying.
During the week, he drew comparisons with Roy Keane and that Marc Overmars challenge when he promised us that, if there was a chance to go through someone, he was going to take it.
The Derry man kept his promise. He absolutely and completely lifted a white shirt into the air – legally – as he won the ball back and raised the roof off of the Aviva.
It was the sort of inspired substitution you could only dream about and, the after-effects of his 67th minute introduction was full-blooded pressure, exciting attacks and a rousing crowd who came to their feet and roared their country back from the brink of defeat.
This was the moment James McClean arrived and said, ‘no more.’
And Martin O’Neill didn’t play down the Wigan man’s effect one bit. He hailed McClean’s performance as ‘excellent.’
“The introduction of James McClean was, I think, probably pivotal,” the Ireland boss reflected after the game.
“I thought his first run and whipped in ball was just fantastic. He was unlucky not to start the game and Aiden [McGeady], who hasn’t played that much football in recent times, was certainly just feeling the pace of the game.
“Nevertheless, one way or the other, getting James onto the field was still important for us. He’s played very well in my time here and I thought that it was obviously important to get him on but his time on the field was nothing short of excellent.”
