IT WAS just like 1990 - flags, beaming politicians, inflatable bananas, T- Shirts emblazoned with Jack Charlton and of course Arnold O'Byrne.

As the Republic under-20 World Cup team, now officially the third best in the world, arrived home to Dublin airport last night, everyone seemed to have been swallowed up in a time warp.

Even Charlie O'Leary, the man who used to carry the bags for Charlton and who once permitted the Pope to have an audience with him, was there.

And yes, soon enough it could be heard: "Ole, ole, ole, ole, ole", sung with passion by at least 1,500 family and friends.

After six weeks in the cruel heat of Malaysia the players and management looked slightly weary as they came off the plane.

The crowd, unable to see them straight away, raised a massive cheer, waiting for the first sight. Then the players appeared, blinded by a bank of cameras and florescent sham rocks.

Team manager Brian Kerr looked bewildered, but was anxious to pay handsome tribute to all his players: "This team have been unbelievable, I had to ask them for very little, they did it all themselves," he said.

Then captain Thomas Morgan spoke: "It's great for a small country to get this far, I am so grateful for the effort every player put in," he said.

With that, it was time for further blasts of "ole, ole, ole, ole'.

Some members of the crowd berated RTE and the national newspapers for the "scant coverage" given to the series of matches. Brian Kerr answered that it was "not the night to have a go at anybody".

Minister for Sport Jim McDaid urged children and parents to turn out for today's open-top bus ride by the team which ends with a reception at Government Buildings with the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern at 12.30 p.m.

Another player with reason to celebrate was Peterborough United player Niall Inman, who is one of two players in the squad born outside Ireland. He told Tile Irish Times he had "been having a hard time recently" from his club teammates for playing with the Republic. "I don't know what they are going to say about this, they will be very humble I suppose," he added.

Finally. the players trailed their way on to a coach and headed for the city centre and, hopefully, a bright future.