A LONG WAY BACK BUT IT IS POSSIBLE

KEVIN LONG admits Ireland have “come up short” but insists a confidence deficit is not becoming an issue.

Long, 28, feels performances are improving but is nevertheless critical of the latest Nations League disappointment against Wales on Tuesday night.

“From the team’s perspective, it’s not good enough,” said the Burnley defender. “We should have got a result.

“We fancied our chances going into it and should’ve taken the lead.

“But we gave away a soft goal and it’s just frustrating. The players have given everything, the staff have given everything – I can’t fault them on that issue. We have come up short.”

Reflecting on the morale status within the squad, Long asserts that no damage has been done.

“I don’t think confidence is an issue,” stated Long. “Going into the game, we fancied our chances massively and we were full of confidence.

“I think we’ve been playing quite well. The big moment was their free-kick.

“It was a sloppy freekick to give away and they score from it, when we should have been in the lead anyway.

“That’s tough to take and that’s the worst thing about it.

“Big moments change games and that’s what happened. We had to chase and it got more open, which played into their hands.”

Long has made 10 international appearances since his debut last year and is optimistic that things will get better following an influx of new faces.

“There are a lot of new players, and I do feel the results have been slowly improving,” he reflected.

“But as I said, it’s not good enough. We need to start winning games. It’s no fault of commitment.

“The staff and players are all together and we’re giving everything. It’s just not clicked at the moment.”