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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Darragh Culhane

Martin O'Neill lets feelings known about Stephen Kenny reign as Ireland manager in rare tv appearance

Martin O'Neill let his feelings known about Stephen Kenny's reign as Ireland boss in a rare Irish TV appearance.

O'Neill was on Premier Sports alongside goalkeeping legend Shay Given and host Eoin McDevitt to talk all things Nottingham Forest and Everton as they were selected for live TV coverage.

The game finished 1-1 but viewers were all all ears as O'Neill spoke about Stephen Kenny's reign as Ireland boss.

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O'Neill managed Ireland from 2013 to 2018 before being replaced by Mick McCarthy while Kenny took over in 2020.

And the FAI is taking a long term approach to Kenny's reign but even the most pro-Kenny supporters will admit form has been patchy.

O'Neill also admitted he remained unconvinced as he spoke on Premier Sports.

He said: "My job there (with Ireland) was to try and qualify for competitions. When I came in first of all that was it, otherwise the second contract wouldn't have existed.

"If you want to get time to build and build and build, that's fine if that's the remit at the Association. Please take that time if that's the case...

"International football is no different to anything else, it's all about results and always will be."

Stephen Kenny (©INPHO/Ryan Byrne)

O'Neill reminisced on his time as Ireland boss when the side qualified for Euro 2016 and said he hopes for more short term results and to see Ireland qualify for a major tournament.

He added: "We had a fantastic time out in France in 2016. We were trying to emulate, maybe emulate is too strong of a word, but trying to copy the great scenes we used to see when Jack Charlton was in charge. It was absolutely fantastic, you'd see the crowds on the World Cup ventures, but then the crowds when you came back were fantastic. We had a really great time.

"Those are the scenes that I believe fans want to experience again, not to turn around to say to some fan that in 2032 we will be going somewhere. You can't have that, you want to try and qualify for the competitions.

"That's what it's about, it's about the competitions."

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