McCarthy hails his heroes

Mick McCarthy celebrates Ireland's superb victory

Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy hailed his heroes after the 10 men in green beat Holland 1-0 in the World Cup qualifier at Lansdowne Road.

The Dutch, recent 2-0 winners over England, went down to a strike from Blackburn's out-of-favour midfielder Jason McAteer after the Irish had Gary Kelly sent off in the second half.

The defeat virtually ends Holland's hopes of reaching the finals in Korea and Japan next year, while the Republic should at least earn a World Cup play-off.

When asked to describe how he felt after the final whistle, McCarthy said: "I am not articulate enough to do it.

"I am running on adrenaline.

Jason McAteer was absolutely magnificent today

Mick McCarthy

"It was amazing... it was aggressive... we dug in.

"The scribes will find words for it tomorrow but I am so proud of the team."

McCarthy joked that after Kelly was sent off for his second bookable offence: "I thought we would win 3-0 then!

"I had to take Robbie (Keane) off when we were down to 10 men, but I knew my lads could do it.

"All week I have said I don't want to talk about who was missing, let's talk about who was playing.

"Let's talk about Jason McAteer. He can't get a game - I am not knocking the club he is at - but he was absolutely magnificent today and he ran his heart out."

McAteer celebrates his winning goal

Looking forward to the game against Cyprus, McCarthy added: "Let's win that - boring, pragmatic, professional.

"This is a very proud moment but it's what the lads have done for me."

Thirty-year-old McAteer paid tribute to manager McCarthy for sticking by him despite his recent struggles at Blackburn.

"He's been more than a football manager, he's been a close friend.

"He never forgets about me even when it's not going right for me at club level.

"Hopefully I've paid him back a little today".

McAteer modestly described his goal as the product of "being in the right place at the right time".

I wondered whether we'd ever get back to a finals

Jason McAteer

"The ball took absolutely ages to come to me but Steve Finnan did really well to get the cross into the box," added McAteer.

The Irish goalscorer admitted there were times in recent years when he doubted that Ireland would qualify again for a major finals.

"The World Cup in 1994 was the highlight of my career and to be honest when the likes of John Aldridge and Tony Cascarino retired, I wondered whether we'd ever get back to a finals.

"But then Mick (McCarthy) came in and look what's he's achieved over the past couple of years.

Dutch coach Louis van Gaal offered no excuses for his side's defeat.

"I think we started well in the first 20 minutes," said the Dutch boss.

We have a group who can go very far in a World Cup, but we got knocked out

Dutch coach Louis va Gaal

"But after that we started to go along with the Irish and played the long ball too much and we didn't look for the free man in midfield".

Asked if Shay Given's second half tangle with striker Ruud van Nistelrooy should have resulted in a penalty van Gaal said: "I think it's too cheap an excuse.

"A referee can blow the whistle for something like that or he cannot. Today he did not".

The former Ajax and Barcelona boss also played tribute to the fighting spirit of the Irish players, whose "offensive defence" he said had disrupted his team's play.

"We have a group (of players) who can go very far in a World Cup, but we got knocked out," he added.

"That's a great disappointment."