Irish Daily Mirror

Wilson wonder strike sinks O’neill again

Ireland booed off after Wilson’s winner but O’neill insists he is man to lead team until 2020

- BY PAUL O’HEHIR

MARTIN O’NEILL has no intention of quitting as Republic of Ireland boss and is convinced Euro 2020 qualificat­ion is achievable.

The under-fire manager (below) saw Wales snatch a 1-0 win at Aviva Stadium that leaves the

Boys in Green staring Nations League relegation in the face.

And to rub salt in the wounds, Ryan

Giggs’ young charges did it without star turns Gareth

Bale and Aaron

Ramsey.

Some boos rang out at the final whistle but the boss said: “I don’t know if they were jeers or for the referee.”

But while many

Irish fans have had enough, O’neill insists he will carry on in the job he has held for the last five-years.

“Absolutely,” he said last night, while accepting full responsibi­lity for a second successive defeat

to the Euro 2016 semi-finalists.

O’neill continued: “I’m not so sure that I never not ask questions about myself – I’ve done that as a player and certainly as a manager.

“You’re asking about responsibi­lity and yes, I take responsibi­lity for every kick made out on that field by us.

“That’s my job and that won’t change. There is no question. But I do question everything as a profession­al and a manager and I’ve always done it.”

Relegation to the third division of the Nations League now looks inevitable – and could be sealed before Ireland facing Denmark in Aarhus on November 19. James Mcclean is also now suspended for that trip.

Wales host Denmark in

Cardiff on November 16 and a result of any descriptio­n for the Danes will confirm the wooden spoon for the

Boys in Green.

Finishing bottom of this group will mean

Ireland are third seeds when the

Euro 2020 qualifying draw is held in Dublin on

December 2.

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 ??  ?? TOUGH TO TAKE Irish players hang their heads at full-time and, below, Martin O’neill looks downbeat on line
TOUGH TO TAKE Irish players hang their heads at full-time and, below, Martin O’neill looks downbeat on line

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