The enormity of Shane Long's most recent international goal may still be dawning on him. He may or may not have heard his mother discussing that bullet of a shot against Germany with President Michael D Higgins on RTE radio on Friday afternoon, who was rapturous in his praise. Long was still grinning when he appeared alongside Martin O'Neill before the Republic of Ireland's tea-time work out in Warsaw's National stadium on Saturday evening.
“I’ve seen the goal back,” he confessed with a grin.
“It was bouncing from friends and family and twitter and that. Somebody asked me about it after the game and it was a bit of a blur. So it was nice to see it again. I just remember the ball bouncing in front of me and trying to make sure to hit the target and it was nice to see it go in.”
His description is as modest as the goal was emphatic. Among Martin O’Neill’s observations on Sunday evening’s game in Warsaw – 3,500 Irish fans are expected to take their place in what promises to be a raucous crowd of 60,000 – was that “Shane’s goal” has given the Irish squad a boost of energy that can be difficult to acquire in the demanding three-day turnaround of the international schedule.
While Long is still enjoying the buzz from a goal that has already been anointed as one of the great moments in Irish football history, he is also clearly itching to get back on the field and he acknowledged that the German win will appreciate in significance if Ireland can somehow conjure up a result which would send them through to next summer's European championships in France directly.
"It is always nice to know going into the game that we have the play offs but having put ourselves in this position, it would be shame to not to qualify. We know that if we get to the play-offs it is going to mean tough games over two legs and anything can happen. We are going to view this game tomorrow as our play off. Win that and we are at the Euros. So that is our main focus now. It would make Thursday if we could get to the Euros. It was a great night but we have to focus on Poland now. It was a big win the other night and we enjoyed in on Thursday night and still kinda talking about it on Friday, recovering. But since then we have been focussing on this game. They got a result against Scotland and they are on a high as well. Germany was a great result but we need to make it mean something and the way to make it mean something is to come here and win."
Long's produced his 69th minute goal just five minutes after Martin O'Neill sent him in to replace Daryl Murphy. As impacts go, it was seismic and enhanced his reputation for making the most from limited minutes, with his goals against Scotland and Gibraltar also scored as a substitute. The line of form suggests he has earned to right to start but O'Neill might be reluctant to tamper with a format that is working so richly. Whether Long starts will be one of the critical selection choices facing the Irish manager on Sunday. Long has made no secret of his desire to start but promised to be ready regardless of whether he is in from the beginning.
“It is up to the boss here. I am ready whenever he needs me to go on the pitch. Of course I’d prefer to start the game but I am ready to do a job for the team. Every player in the squad: you do want to start the game but if that is not the case then you wish the player in your position all the best and you are ready and waiting on the bench to come on and try and make an impact. I am ready whenever I am needed. I love playing for Ireland. I love that jersey.”
