SOCCER:The meeting between North and South was overshadowed by the James McCarthy saga, writes CARL O'MALLEY

A MEETING between North and South would once have generated more than a little interest round these parts, but if the build-up to and culmination of last night’s Carling Nations Cup tie is anything to go by, the times they are a changing.

“One of those rare events in international football that promises to have a real local derby feel to it,” was John Delaney’s prediction in the official match programme. Prescient it was not, the homeside sauntered to victory in front of 15,092 punters, but all was not lost for those in search of a meaty confrontation as it emerged during the first half that the FAI weren’t exactly buying the sick-note sent by Wigan Athletic on behalf of midfielder James McCarthy.

As if that wasn’t enough, it also emerged that the excuses offered by Stoke for Marc Wilson’s late withdrawal were also being viewed with scepticism. He failed to show in Dublin yesterday after being named in the starting XI but did not inform the FAI.

If Carlsberg did bombshells.

McCarthy’s whereabouts were always going to dominate question time with Giovanni Trapattoni afterwards. The manager’s revelation on Monday that a number of efforts to contact the player had gone unanswered since May 4th were followed yesterday by claims from the club and McCarthy that he was injured. In fact, Wigan manager Roberto Martinez predicted a three to four-week lay-off, just enough to ensure he was ruled out of Ireland’s three other fixtures between now and June 7th.

Trapattoni knew more than he revealed on Monday, because what was received the previous night was a text from Wigan claiming the ankle injury was sustained during the 1-0 win over Stoke City, of which McCarthy played 90 minutes, and a scan would follow.

“The Irish team doctor responded that evening to ask when the scan would be carried out,” explained an extraordinarily specific FAI communiqué circulated during the game, “and Wigan replied that they would send it the following day (Monday). On Monday at 6.37pm the Irish team doctor received an email from Wigan with a scan which showed no evidence of significant injury. At 6.39pm the Irish team doctor replied to ask when the player would be reporting.

“No response has been received since and the FAI has written to Wigan today (Tuesday) regarding the matter.”

Over to Trap, who wore an expression similar to Robbie Keane’s when being taken off on a hat-trick earlier in the evening; bemusement, with a hint of fury.

After muttering something loudly in his mother tongue on the way in to the media room, he insisted as he sat down: “I don’t wish to speak about the missing players,” and then promptly discussed them, though. Clearly frustrated by the whole issue, it came out more disjointed than usual but sentiment was clear.

“We clarified on Monday that we called them in but they didn’t come. The next time we will decide whether or not to call them. This is an issue for the FAI,” he added. “The call-up was sent a while ago and until Monday there was no contact. If they don’t come, we will call others, like Simon Cox. They can play football just as well

“We watch these players for one or two months and then decided to call them up. Once they come in and afterwards they don’t. They must come to us so we can check them and if they are injured they can go back.”

He added it was a matter of respect, not for him, but for Ireland. “They should come, be checked and then they can go back. This is for you and for the Irish people. This shouldn’t happen anywhere in the world. It’s impossible for me to understand this. This is the first time in all of my years I have seen a situation like this.”

Though he didn’t say the players would not be called up again, he suggested he has enough options.