SEAMUS COLEMAN RETURNED home to a hero’s welcome in Killybegs last night and told of Euro 2016’s emotional rollercoaster.
Coleman was the Republic of Ireland captain for last Wednesday’s epic 1-0 win over Italy in Lille and for Sunday’s 2-1 defeat by France in Lyon in the round of 16.
The Everton full-back was welling up as he spoke to Tony O’Donoghue on RTÉ in the immediate aftermath of the loss to France.
“It was very emotional, straight after the game,” Coleman told Donegal Sport Hub last night.
[adrotate group=”66″]“We felt that we could have taken something out of the game. At half-time, we felt even more like that. We tired in the second half. The emotion came from seeing the fans and how amazing they have been.
“A special bond was created between fans and players. We felt we could have gone one step further. The legs went a wee bit and I think the three days extra definitely helped France.”
Robbie Brady’s late goal won the night against Italy to send Martin O’Neill’s team into the knockout phase. It was Brady’s penalty that had Ireland in dreamland after just two minutes on Sunday, before Antoine Griezmann’s second-half brace gave the French a passage to the quarter-finals.
[adrotate group=”43″]Coleman said: “We didn’t fear them one bit. The had so much in their favour, but we had them under the cosh.
“We were comfortable at half-time, but they made it difficult when they changed formation. They’re a top team with top players, though. We conceded the goals too quick. We opened up more than we should have.”
O’Neill shuffled his pack for Italy, with veteran defender John O’Shea one of those to make way. In O’Shea’s absence, the captain’s armband was put upon Coleman’s left arm in the piercing humidity in Lille.
The Killybegs man said: “It was an amazing feeling to captain the country at any level. It was a special honour. To do it in such a big game that we needed to win and we did get the win, it was an incredible feeling.
“I believed that there was a big result in us. We got it against Italy and we got it the right way. We played football and we took confidence into the France game.”
Coleman was taken aback at the scale of the homecoming with hundreds turning out in the south-west Donegal fishing port.
Coleman said: “I’m not surprised. The people of Killybegs are always on my mind and I always try to make them proud. It was a special night. They turned out in their numbers, which is amazing for me and my family to see.”
[adrotate group=”37″]Listen to the full interview below …
https://soundcloud.com/donegalsporthub-club-notes/seamus-coleman-at-homecoming-in-killybegs-from-euro-2016
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