PLAYER'S QUOTES: Understandably  not many of his team-mates were in the mood for talking in the players' tunnel last night, but captain Kenny Cunningham stopped to give his view on a depressing evening.

"A huge disappointment. We had high hopes coming into the game, everybody was very much looking forward to it. At one stage it looked like we'd take a point, at the very least, although when we scored we felt we could go and win the game, we had the impetus then. But they caught us when it didn't really look like they'd score, caught us right at the end. It's heartbreaking."

When asked about the obvious speculation about Mick McCarthy's future now, Cunningham responded: "My initial thoughts are that nothing is going to change. Mick came into the dressing-room as disappointed as everybody else but he was also very upbeat.

"It's still possible to qualify from this group, to win it, of course, looks like it may be beyond us but there is still a route for us to the European Championships via the second place, that's still a huge incentive for us. Switzerland still have to go to Russia, have to play them home and away; we've got the Russians here and we're more than capable of going to Switzerland and winning."

"There's still everything to play for. Of course there's huge disappointment and there will be for a while but we owe it to ourselves and the supporters to pick ourselves up and try to ensure we give ourselves every chance of qualifying from this group."

Cunningham was understanding about the crowd's reaction at the final whistle?

"Emm . . . it was understandable, I think. They're desperate for success, expectations were raised to such a level after the World Cup that they expect us to go and qualify for the European Championships, so we could understand the crowd's frustration.

"Obviously it isn't helpful. You could hear the rumblings of discontent at one point from the crowd and that can make it difficult. When you're struggling to pass the ball as well as we know we can do and you hear the crowd's reaction, as understandable as it is, it doesn't make things any easier for the players. We just had to cope with it, to be honest."

When asked did he think the players had let McCarthy down Cunningham defended the team's approach and attitude to the game.

"I don't think so, to be honest with you. Of course we understand the position Mick finds himself in, you'd want to be a blind man not to see that, but we didn't approach the game in a lacklustre manner, our work-rate was the same as ever, we weren't complacent about the game - if we were then I'd say we let him down. I don't think that was the case, we gave our all, unfortunately it wasn't good enough on this occasion, but it certainly wasn't for lack of effort from the players."

There is, not surprisingly, another vote of support for McCarthy from Clinton Morrison, who replaced Kevin Kilbane in the second half and made a couple of brave attempts at providing the winner.

"Personally I hope he does stay," Morrison says. "He's given me the chance to represent my country, and I've enjoyed everything since my debut. I'm learning all the time as well playing international football. Obviously the crowd weren't too happy at the end. It was disappointing for them as well, but we just have to get on with it. Right now everyone is gutted."

With the Irish players spending the last couple of minutes on the field listening to the unsettling chants of Keano (referring to the absent Roy) there is no need to remind Morrison that the former captain is being sorely missed by the majority of supporters.

"Well we obviously know as well as anyone how much we're missing Roy Keane. He's a class player, one of the best in the business. But he's had a dispute with the manager and I can't comment on that. It was a bit disturbing but we've heard it before and we knew it was coming around. We've just got to carry on playing the best we can.

"And the players do still believe we can get there. It won't easy now, having to beat Russia, and Switzerland away. But I still think this team can carry on growing. There is a good spirit there."

Just before Switzerland's winner, Morrison felt the victory was theirs for the taking: "When we levelled it we were thinking of going on to win. But they defended really well and made some very good blocks. Still I was happy to come on, but just not happy with the result."