TWO DEFEATS. Two perspectives. In Macedonia just four weeks ago Mick McCarthy sat behind a white linen topped table, his face betraying signs that the burden of despair was becoming too much for him. Last night, his team lost again but in doing so left no space for despair. McCarthy sat in another room, hands down on another tablecloth and spoke of the future with relish.

"I think you could see tonight these are the players I am going with. In terms of points we got nothing, but I will look back on tonight with satisfaction. We can come second and still qualify."

This was a hopeful, positive performance, the most articulate argument yet made on behalf of McCarthy's courageous management style. To come to a hostile arena like the Steaua Stadium and pin an accomplished side like Komania into their own half for lengthy periods is an accomplishment of note for any side. To leave reflecting that a draw was the very least that was deserved is a moral victory of huge dimensions.

"What did we deserve?" asked McCarthy, still pumped with adrenalin after his side's display. "We should have won the game. If we had taken our chances, if we had scored our penalty we would have won. We had good chances, but we didn't put them away, they got one from 20 yards and he put it in the top corner. At this level you have to do that."

To discard the tactic that had become his hallmark and pick a team showing six changes from that which played in Macedonia was a massive gamble for McCarthy. He reflected that even in defeat the risk had been shown to be worthwhile.

"Whatever you do is a risk. If I'd fallen flat on my face tonight it would have been dreadful. But I didn't look on it like that. These players have shown me passion and pace and lots of ability.

"In the last year I've seen a lot from these young players. Kenny Cunningham tonight, he was a different class. Ian Harte, too. I know it was his header that fell for the goal, but it was one of those strikes that Just flew into the net. David Connolly bad an outstanding game. The young lads have come and they have performed. I'm delighted. I'm going with these lads. They are the future of the national side. No question."

McCarthy was defensive about Roy Keane's penalty miss early in the second half. "Alan McLoughlin would normally take the penalty for us, but he's not here. Roy picked the ball up. Anybody who takes a penalty in those circumstances if they score they are a hero, if they miss it's up to the other lads to put them on the back and tell them to get on with it.

"Roy is one of the best players in the world, 15 of £20 million quids worth. The goalkeeper made a good save off him."

Is that is Mick? Was it down to a great save? "What do you want me to say. Do you want me to have a pop off Roy. It was a great save. That's all."

On other issues less central to the performance, McCarthy professed not to have seen what hit Ray Houghton on the head in the second half "I just looked up and saw him writhing on the ground."

He also reassured Manchester United buffs that Denis Irwin would he returned to them in mint condition. "Denis got a kick early on and then got clattered over the sideline. I think it was Gheorghe (Hagi) getting his own back for some of the tackles Denis put in. He'd already been booked so I decide to take him off to be on the safe side."

For a man who doesn't spend too much time walking on the safe side, the quality and invention of Ireland's play gave immense satisfaction. Last night's performance will grant McCarthy some respite from his increasingly clamorous critics. This past few days have seen relations between the manager and the media decline slightly as McCarthy reacted strongly to questions about the security of his tenure.

Yesterday had begun as another shambolic day with the FAI again unable to secure a room in which to stage the manager's pre-game press conference in the afternoon.

Having demurred when offered the use of the hotel bar on Tuesday, McCarthy reluctantly availed of the facility yesterday rather than face the press scrum in the teeming lobby, of the Intercontinental Hotel.

In the bar with a dozen or so beery fans listening in and looking on McCarthy, not, in the best of tempers, defended his brave team selection. There was some scepticism in the air and a feeling that if McCarthy's gamble failed comprehensively he might be served up as shredded fillet on some tabloid platters this morning. Even those who have become fond of the manager's blunt brand of bravery were inclined to view his team with the words which Twain used about Wagner's music "probably better than it sounds".

So it proved. In the aftermath, hours later, of Ireland's best competitive performance of the past 18 months, McCarthy was walking tall. A Romanian journalist asked him how much money he would have got had Ireland won last night. McCarthy was amused and incredulous.

"I can't believe you've asked me that. I'm gob smacked. We play for Ireland not for money. We play for the pride and the passion. If you're going to ask about money I want my accountant here, he'll give you my bank number in Switzerland. No mate, it's for the pride and the passion that we play. Money doesn't come into it."

Play for pride and passion. The mission statement for the remainder of the campaign.