MICK McCARTHY is planning to profit from the lessons of history when he takes the Republic of Ireland team into the opening game in the US Cup against the host country at Boston on Sunday.

Four years ago Jack Charlton vowed that he would give the competition a wide berth in future years, after coming unstuck in the opening two games against the US and Italy.

The problem, he explained, was that with so much hospitality on offer it was difficult draw the line between leisure and business at this belated stage of the season.

Indeed, it was only after the players themselves had convened a meeting, that reality was restored and honour retrieved with a 2-0 win over Portugal in the final game.

McCarthy, together with Niall Quinn, Tony Cascarino, Alan McLoughlin and Terry Phelan, survives from that adventure, and he now aims to turn the experience to his advantage.

"Whatever about the last Irish team to tour here, there is certainly no danger of us underestimating either the importance of the competition, or the quality of the opposition," he said.

"Given the current stage of our development we couldn't afford to do otherwise. Young lads are playing for places out here and I, as manager, would like to win at least one game before we go home.

"We had our free day yesterday. From now on it's like any day at the office training, talking and getting ourselves into the proper frame of mind for three difficult games."

McCarthy's pragmatism is not the only sign of the changed times in Irish football. David Connolly (19) asked Mark Kennedy, Gareth Farrelly, Ian Harte and Keith 0'Neill to join him for a modest birthday drink at the team hotel 20 miles outside Boston.

All six were refused by a conscientious proprietor not wishing to risk a 5100,000 fine for selling alcohol to minors under the age of 21.

That is a vivid illustration of the massive rebuilding programme the new manager has undertaken, and the emphasis will again be on youth when he names his team for the opening assignment in the Foxboro Stadium.

0'Neill, who scored against Croatia, was left out of the starting line-up against Holland in Rotterdam last Tuesday because of a chest infection, but he will now push Connolly hard for the front runner's role.

These are exciting times for the 20-year-old from Finglas whose form with Norwich City in the closing months of the season attracted the interest of several clubs.

Tottenham and Arsenal were among those believed to be monitoring his progress but, surprisingly, his own preference will be for either Derby or Leicester if Norwich decide to sell him.

"At this stage of my career I'm not quite sure if a move to either of the two big London teams would be in my best interests," he said. "It might be wiser to go to a smaller, ambitious club and work my way through from there".

Steve Sampson, the American coach, was not privy to McCarthy's press briefing yesterday, but, in a curious way, he echoed his thoughts when he held court later in the day.

"In the old days, visiting teams came here for a holiday, but now, at last, I think we're getting some respect," he said. "Teams preparing for the European finals wanted to play us and, generally, our rating has improved abroad.

"But deep down, I suspect that Ireland, with their great tradition, still believe they are superior to us. And they may just have an attitude problem going into our game on Sunday."