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IZUMO, Japan (AP) -- Ireland coach Mick McCarthy expressed relief Wednesday that the weeklong crisis over Roy Keane's dismissal was finally over and rejected any suggestion that he should resign. Keane put to rest all possibility that he would rejoin the team after releasing a short statement Tuesday saying he would not return to Japan. The Manchester United midfielder had been sent home last Thursday after he had verbally attacked McCarthy in front of the team, reportedly questioning the coach's competence. "I'm glad it's finished," McCarthy said. "Hopefully we can move on. We've been trying to talk about football for a number of days and that's not been the case. "It's been a regrettable incident, all the way through," he said. "It hasn't helped." It certainly hasn't. Not only is Ireland without its best player, the dispute dragged on for days amid signs that Keane might apologize and that McCarthy might allow him back -- neither of which happened. It all left the team in a state of confusion and unease, hardly the best way to begin a World Cup campaign. Niall Quinn, the team's oldest player, said Tuesday that his teammates were "devastated" by the whole ordeal. The remaining 22 players must now try to put everything behind them and focus on Saturday's opening match against Cameroon, considered a favorite in Group E. Ireland also plays Germany and Saudi Arabia. McCarthy said it had been the worst week of his life -- but confidently said he had done nothing to hang his head. "Yes, I feel sorry about the incident, what's happened and what's gone on, but in way, shape or form do I feel ashamed of it and walk away and worry about what I've done," he said. McCarthy bluntly rejected any suggestion that he should step down, but, when asked if he had considered it, McCarthy said he had "considered all sorts of things over the last 24 hours." Brendan Menton, the secretary general of the Football Association of Ireland, voiced strong support for McCarthy. "The events of the last couple days have brought Mick McCarthy and the association closer together, and we hope he will continue to be the Irish manager for many years to come," he said. FAI Treasurer John Delaney, who was involved in the past week's negotiations, said Tuesday that the only possible winners out of the whole affair were Germany, Cameroon and Saudi Arabia. Some of the Irish players had been staying up until 2 a.m. following the Irish end of the news, then getting up 6 a.m. for training, Delaney said. "We've got three days left and we've absolutely got to regain our focus," he said. "This has been a hugely unhelpful and at time exhausting distraction. We finally have closure." Conscious of the divided opinions back in Ireland, which has been consumed by the controversy for the last week, McCarthy urged Ireland supporters to rally behind the team. "Whether you support me or not, is irrelevant at this stage," he said. "Get behind those guys. Let's see if we can do well in this World Cup." On Wednesday morning, the team was scheduled to take in some of the sights around Izumo, a farming town 100 kilometers north of Hiroshima with one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan, but the players decided instead to stay home and get some extra rest. In the afternoon, the squad participated in a soccer clinic for 300 local elementary school children, with each player leading a group of 10 or 12 kids in various drills and activities. Damien Duff had the kids in his group trying to keep their balls in the air, bouncing them on their knees and feet. Robbie Keane was doing headers with his students. In Shay Given's group, the children lined up about five meters (yards) out and tried to kick the ball past him. Afterward, the team practiced under the hot sun, running half-pitch drills and then scrimmaging. Mark Kinsella missed the training, but McCarthy insisted there was no cause for concern, saying he was resting his knee. He was also pleased to see Jason McAteer, who had injured his knee in a friendly on Saturday, join in. McCarthy said he would announce his starting lineup an hour before Saturday's kickoff.
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