THE Republic of Ireland squad are on the brink of gate-crashing football's super-powers.

So insisted former York City goalkeeper Dean Kiely, who, along with the rest of the Republic's World Cup squad, returned from the Far East to a tumultuous heroes' welcome.

More than 100,000 fans shoe-horned into Dublin's Phoenix Park to greet the Republic squad, who fittingly rose from the ashes of Roy Vol-Keano's explosive pre-tournament take-off to captivate not just the Irish nation, but Korea and Japan, and then across further swathes of the football-mad planet.

While they were ousted in the second round by Spain, the Irish bowed out via a drama-drenched penalty shoot-out. They were not beaten in normal play and negotiated a tough group to earn their knockout showdown with the Spaniards.

Now the Irish have to continue their progression of advancement beyond simple qualification for major tournaments.

Kiely is convinced Mick McCarthy's green, lean and mean marauders can now take the next step to being regulars at European Championships and World Cups and not just hoping to qualify.

Said Kiely, who spent his formative years between the posts with York City before a tribunal-fixed move to Bury and then on to Charlton Athletic three seasons ago: "Based on what we have achieved in the World Cup, I will stick my neck out and say that for the foreseeable future I think Ireland will have a big part to play in the major tournaments.

"I am very optimistic about that because we have shown we can play and we have a lot of young talent in the team and more still to come through."

Kiely did not manage to break free of the substitutes' bench as he played second fiddle to the Republic's impressive number one net-minder, Newcastle United's Shay Given.

But he is still glowing at the experience and the passion that enveloped the squad during the World Cup finals.

"Of course it's difficult being a substitute," he confessed to the Evening Press. "It's hard to be the back-up goalkeeper because you are so desperate to play.

"But when you strip all that down I have had the chance to go to the World Cup finals in Japan and Korea for what was a five-week experience of a lifetime.

"It was fantastic. It was a phenomenal experience. Both in Japan and Korea the reception we had was excellent. Everything was turned green and the people of Korea and Japan welcomed us and our fans."

Kiely said that the start of preparations were clearly made 'more tense' by former skipper Keane's acrimonious exit after that bust-up with manager McCarthy. But he added: "It was massive news, especially back in Ireland, but within the squad it came and went in a few days.

"I have to say the professionalism within the squad was unbelievable. We never let it affect us and that was expressed in the way we played.

"I don't think we were trying to make a point. After all, we were all Premiership players and we wanted to show what we could do."

Besides the enthusiastic welcome afforded the Irish by the locals while they were away, and the rapturous reception accorded them on their return, the highlight of the entire World Cup extravaganza for Kiely was the front-line partnership of Leeds United's Robbie Keane and Blackburn Rovers' wizard of the dribble Damien Duff.

"What a combination. They were top class and Damien Duff was truly phenomenal," purred the former Minsterman.

"He especially has the footballing world at his feet. What he can go on to achieve is entirely up to him." It's a prospect that can apply to the Republic ranks as a whole after their green-shoots flourished so spiritedly in the Orient.

Updated: 11:15 Saturday, June 22, 2002