Ireland midfielder Kevin Kilbane is relieved the spectre of Roy Keane has finally been removed from the Republic camp.
Keane walked out on his country in the World Cup in the summer - and after months of speculation over his international future, the Manchester United midfielder announced his retirement only hours before Ireland turned in a 2-0 winning performance to beat Scotland at Hampden Park last night.
Kilbane, who scored with a fine glancing header to open the scoring against the Scots, said: "It's fair to say the issue with Roy has always been hanging over us. But it's over with now. It's a closed chapter, and we've now got to get on with it.
"The players and the management are in it together - we always have been and we always will be. We've got big games coming up, and the story with Roy has ended - so we move on," he said.
Kilbane was one of several players in a weakened Irish side who put in a good performance to get new manager Brian Kerr's tenure as boss off to a good start.
The Sunderland player gave the visitors the lead early on, and when Clinton Morrison made it 2-0 after just 16 minutes there was no way back for the disappointing Scots.
Kilbane admits the Irish players had to make amends following their disappointing European Championship qualifying results of late and he hopes the performance will be a springboard for the rest of the campaign.
He said: "We had to prove a point to ourselves after our last showing against Switzerland. "We didn't play well then and we knew we had to set the record straight.
"Now we've got to take that performance into the qualifying games coming up against Georgia and Albania.
"We also had Robbie Keane and Damien Duff out. They are two quality players and they'll definitely come in and start the next game.
"Everyone else is playing for the other places in the team, so we all have to make a statement for ourselves."
Ireland's Millwall midfielder Stephen Reid made the most of his call-up - turning in an impressive performance on the right hand side - and he is keen to become a permanent fixture in Kerr's side.
"Everyone starts with a clean slate, and Brian (Kerr) will want to look at all his options," said Reid. "For those in the starting XI it was important to put on a good show.
"I hope I'll be involved in the next one."
PA