Source: Daily_Mail
Ireland team-mates Keith Andrews and Kevin Foley reflect on a happy ending to the season
ShareIn the blue corner, Keith Andrews, once of Wolves, a man who has been unable to play his part in Blackburn Rovers' struggles this season due to a freak injury.[LNB]And in the black and gold corner, Kevin Foley, a proud Irishman with a London accent who managed to cling on to his Premier League status by the skin of his teeth on a dramatic Sunday afternoon at Molineux.[LNB]The day Wolves lost to Blackburn, and celebrated like they had won a trophy.[LNB]'It was a mad day,' Foley said. 'The players did not really knowing what was going on from one moment to the next, or what we had to do.[LNB]'At one stage, the Blackburn fans were singing 'the Seasiders are staying up' and then our fans were chanting `one goal to stay up'.[LNB]'It was a crazy day. We lost 3-2 and we were on the pitch going mad like we'd won a cup.' [LNB]The only way is up: Andrews[LNB]Three-down after a dreadful first-half, Wolves, who had looked relatively safe and clear of trouble going into the final day after two consecutive victories, were suddenly dragged into the mire. And throughout the last 45 minutes of the season they flirted with the bottom three.[LNB]Wolves boss Mick McCarthy did his magic in the half-time break, but Foley admitted he nearly tore the paint off the dressing room walls.[LNB]He said: 'It was a nightmare going in at half time. The gaffer gave us some choice words. [LNB]'He said 'At the moment lads, we're going down, we're buried. We need to lift our heads and come out fighting or kiss the Premier League goodbye.' [LNB]'He was right, the lads responded really well. It just shows how much character the lads have and I think we've given that to Mick all season. Even though we lost, we showed what we've been about all season.' [LNB]Andrews, who was a non-playing substitute at his former club, said there was a marked contrast in the Blackburn dressing room during half-time. Rovers boss Steve Kean knew his side were as good as safe after his players had put in one of their best performances of the season.[LNB]'Ours was a lot different,' he said. `It was very relaxed. Obviously at three-nil up, it couldn't have gone much better for us.[LNB]'We just needed to see the game out and do nothing silly. We fully expected them to come back, and the crowd got right behind them, and credit to them, they came out fighting and got the goals they deserved. I was glad to see them staying up.' [LNB]McCarthy's words ringing in their ears, the Wolves players went for the visitors in the early stages of the second-half, but only Jamie O'Hara breached the defiant Blackburn player of the season Paul Robinson.[LNB]Then, as crucial goals at Old Trafford and White Hart Lane flew in, news filtered through that Wolves needed an additional goal to put themselves ahead of Birmingham on goal difference at least.[LNB]Step forward Foley's Ireland team-mate Stephen Hunt.[LNB]Foley said: 'The fans were chanting 'One more goal to stay up' and as soon as soon Hunty hit it, I knew it was in. Then I rugby tackled him to the floor. I didn't want him to get up, he wanted to get to the centre but I was saying 'No, stay down, we're staying up, we're staying up'.[LNB]'When he joined us, he was injured and then he came back in, and it took him a while to settle. Then he found himself out of the team again but just recently he came back in with a bang and he hit form at just the right time.[LNB]'He's one of those players who gets at a full back and never gives him a minute's rest. Sunday was no different, he thoroughly deserved his goal.' [LNB]Hunt's priceless strike has kept McCarthy at the helm for definite and will allow the former Ireland boss to further invest this summer. [LNB]With a healthy Irish contingent, including ?6 million striker Kevin Doyle, who is out of the remaining games of the season for his country, Foley is confident Wolves can build on surviving their second season in the Premier League for the first time.[LNB]Foley said: 'We've been very inconsistent. We've beaten some of the top teams and then against the teams we should be taking points off, we've not got anything out of them.[LNB]'It was frustrating but at other times it was magical. There's a lot of relief and thankfully it's over.[LNB]'This year was definitely going to be tougher than last year. The teams that came up were stronger than they were last year. The standard went up a few notches and I'm sure next year will be just the same.' [LNB]Andrews meanwhile has been a spectator for most of the season but the midfielder, who spent nine years at Wolves, is delighted both clubs survived on Sunday. [LNB]'I've still got a lot of friends there,' Andrews said. 'And I don't know Mick McCarthy very well, but what I do know, he has always impressed me. I think he does things right and I'm pleased for him as well.' His prolonged absence came after he picked up an infection from a routine groin operation.[LNB]He is back in the Ireland side tonight, desperate to make up for lost time and to put himself in contention for the final Euro 2012 qualifier of the season at the end of next week.[LNB]Andrews said: 'I had a lot of trouble with pains and aches around my pelvis and the operation was supposed to keep me out for 10 to 12 weeks, a relatively simple one. `I went on antibiotics for a couple of months but wasn't really able to train or play. I came back, played a few games, wasn't really right, the infection stayed dormant and came back quite violently.[LNB]'One afternoon I was sat on the sofa, and couldn't move my legs, or move anywhere around my pelvis. Now, I'm on a course of quite heavy duty antibiotics for six months. It hasn't been ideal.[LNB]'Obviously, an injury you can get your head around but this type of thing, and the fact people did not know what it was, it wasn't nice. Thankfully they came up with a solution and I'm on the mend.[LNB]'It's been a very frustrating season. I've only been back to myself for the last three or four weeks, and involved in the last three games, and feel I'm back to what I was before.[LNB]'All I can do now is show the manager that I'm back to what I was before. First and foremost, I want to get back to enjoying my football. I've really missed being with the lads, its been a horrible season and I just want to play football, so if I can force my way back in that'd be fantastic.[LNB]'The manager knows me well. He's the one that gave me my chance and I'm grateful for that, and when I've been fit, he's always picked me or had me in the squad. I just need to prove to him that I'm fit and ready to go.' [LNB]Comments (0)
