The parting of the ways came with the dawn. The Irish squad left the island of Saipan early yesterday for their new training camp at Izumo, Japan. They left behind the bruised figure of their former captain and star, Roy Keane.
With the split, almost all hope vanished that there could be a reconciliation. Bertie Ahern was among those wasting his breath thereafter. Attempts had been made to broker some sort of reconciliation between player and team but the message from both camps was "thanks but no thanks".
More worrying at this stage, perhaps, was the confirmation from FIFA, the world soccer body, that Ireland will not be allowed to replace Keane in the squad before the tournament begins. There had been quiet hope that Colin Healy, the young Cork midfielder, would receive a late call-up. This now seems impossible although FAI officials said they would continue to explore every avenue.
Keane, meanwhile, left alone and carrying his own bags and making his own travel arrangements, left Saipan later in the day muttering only to the handful of reporters who remained behind that he had "absolutely no regrets". The atmosphere among the more substantial travelling party was light and there was evident relief some sort of an end had been put to a festering sore in the Irish preparations.
There was little doubt that most players would have preferred that Keane had found a way to live with both his own demons and the foibles of others for the next few weeks but, failing that, there was quiet relief at having unburdened themselves of an increasingly volatile source of distraction.
The team travelled to the rural city of Izumo where they will be billeted for the next week. In Izumo, they will train in a specially constructed dome and play a friendly game today against Japanese club side Hiroshima.
For that game Ireland have opted for the reserve midfield pairing of Matt Holland and Mark Kinsella. After the three-and-a-half- hour flight to Izumo, the team had a light training session in the afternoon at the venue for today's game. The mood among players and management was decidedly upbeat and those seeking to prolong the discussion of the Keane business were disappointed.
"That's history, that part of the trip; I'm not going to discuss it, anybody's opinion of it, criticism of it, analysis of it. I'm moving on," said McCarthy.
"What I'm prepared to discuss from today onwards is the 22 players that I have got with me."