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09th Oct 2017

There are three changes in the Ireland team to play Wales

Conan Doherty

Ever see that documentary, The Secret?

It’s based on the Law of Attraction. A load of Americans talking about how their dreams came true because they knew they would come true.

If you believe something will happen, it will happen. That’s the gist of it.

Conor McGregor is said to have been transformed after watching it and that’s why he still to this day vocalises his assertion that he’s going to do this, that and the other. He believes in himself but he also believes that if he says he’s going to do something, it will happen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC_YmdPy2h0&t=8s

And that brings us to Wales v Ireland at the Cardiff City Stadium on Monday night.

The Irish might have been frustratingly tame in the last five games of this qualification campaign and we might be rooted with an inferiority complex which places inhibitions and limitations on our true potential but on any given night, magic can happen. As long as it’s just one night.

And here we are again in no position to be worried or cautious. Ireland must beat Wales and that’s all there is to it. Beat Wales and you’re in a World Cup playoff (at least). Don’t beat Wales and you’ll have to wait another four years to get the same chance to bridge the gap to 2002.

Ireland are generally good when they need a result and when they need to rise above themselves. They need to do that this evening. They need to believe they can.

Martin O’Neill hasn’t exactly gone all out though.

McClean and Robbie Brady have returned but Harry Arter comes in in place of Shane Long in what looks like a 4-5-1.