GAA, soccer, boxing, even road bowls, Jake O’Brien had success at whatever sport he turned his hand to as a youngster.
A natural sportsman, he was a national champion as an underage boxer, a Munster champion in road bowls, a championship winner at Gaelic Football, a right-back as a young soccer star and now, although he stands 6’6”, he has been able to establish himself as a Premier League left-back with Everton.
The imposing defender from Youghal, county Cork is a supremely-gifted athlete and the Republic of Ireland will need all his talents and ability when they take the field against Portugal in Lisbon on Saturday night.
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The Republic squad boarded their flight to Lisbon yesterday and O’Brien admitted that their previous performance in the 2-1 loss to Armenia in Yerevan is “definitely in the back of our heads”.
The Ireland players are desperate to move on from it – they need to be – and the best way to do that is by bringing back a point from their third Group F World Cup qualifier.
“We’d a meeting and we were reminded of it,” said O’Brien.
“I suppose we know as much as anyone how bad of a performance it was but we’re looking to put it behind us and go into the game this week with a clear mind and be positive.
“We’ve briefly looked back but I think we’re looking to put it behind us as fast as we can because it was negative and I think us players know as much as anyone how bad of a performance it was.
“We’re definitely looking to put it behind us and go into the game this week with a clear mind and be positive and look to get a result. We’ve had a few days to do our tactics and put things right and be positive and go into the game this week with a clear mind.”
Republic of Ireland manager Heimar Hallgrimsson recalled O’Brien’s Everton team-mate Seamus Coleman for this double-header along with Hull City’s John Egan.
Now 36, there doesn’t seem much point in including Coleman to have him sitting on the bench and O’Brien says his Donegal team-mate still has plenty to offer his country.
“They’re experienced players but they’re obviously really good players as well and not just in it because of the experience,” said O’Brien.
“They’re in it because they’re doing well and they’re good players. They’ve been in and around the squad for many years and they’ve been in positions where it’s been good and bad.
Republic of Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson is hoping to retain Seamus Coleman’s experience
Republic of Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson is hoping to retain Seamus Coleman’s experience(Niall Carson/PA)
“I think it’s about using that experience. We’re a young squad and I suppose just setting the standards and putting that into training and then we bring that into the game.”
The Ireland players and management insist that they can still force their way into a play-off place (the target is seven points) in this campaign. A draw in Portugal would be a terrific result and to have any chance to getting it Caoimhin Kelleher and the defence will have to provide a solidity that hasn’t been there in the draw against Hungary or the loss in Armenia.
“It’s Portugal, we know they’re a top, top team so we’re not expecting to get on the ball and have 60-70 per cent possession,” said O’Brien.
“We know that’s their game but I think we’ve got to dig in and be defensively compact. We’ll have moments during the game to break through and that’s what we’re looking at, making sure when the moments come that we get it right.
“Portugal are definitely up there (among the best in Europe). They’ve got a lot of good, good players and they’re one of the best teams in the world for a reason but at the end of the day it’s 11 v 11 and we’ll put it up to them and make sure that we don’t make it easy for them.
“It’s important that we put the bad energy behind us and we look good into the game with a positive mindset.”
Long throw-ins are now back in vogue and, although you’d think he’d be more useful on the other end of the throw-in, the multi-talented Corkman has developed a mighty delivery from the touchline. Ireland will utilise it on Saturday night.
“It’s become a lot more common and not just us but in the Premier League it is a lot more common,” he says.
“Against teams like Portugal you’ve got to pick your moments and if we’re high up the pitch that means getting our big players in the box and trying to use something to our advantage then we’ll do it.
“I won’t say I have a Rory Delap throw-in because I don’t, but you can definitely get something from throw-ins. I think you’re seeing in the Premier League now that if you win the first flick-on then it can bobble in the box and you can get something from it.
“Against teams like Portugal it’s important that we use this to our advantage and set up right and hopefully something comes from it.”