Gibson gives McIlroy reason to regret Good Friday Agreement

Sammy McIlroy spoke yesterday of how he tried to persuade Darron Gibson, Manchester United's Carling Cup match-winner, to play for his native Northern Ireland, only to see the player slip through their grasp by moving directly from Northern Ireland under-16s to a place in the Republic of Ireland senior squad.

Gibson, who was born in Derry, had the 1998 Good Friday agreement to thank for being able to switch. With its provision for shared British/Irish birthright and the "parity of esteem" for both Irish and British cultures, the agreement enabled Gibson to choose whether to represent Northern Ireland or the Republic.

McIlroy, Northern Ireland manager in the first three years of the decade, said he told a 14-year Gibson, who was the talk of the Northern Irish youth football scene, that there would be less competition to play for the North and that youth would not impede his breakthrough into the senior side.

"At the time the Republic were already a bit better than Northern Ireland were and I was going all around west Belfast and the North trying to get anyone but he was the one I wanted," McIlroy told The Independent. "There was already interest from Manchester United when I spoke to him and we all knew he was going there. He didn't actually say a lot in reply to me but I just tried to say his youth would not be a problem for me. I said he would get in the side quicker than in the Republic and I just left it with him. I think what I said has been proven to be the case. He's not what I would call a regular in the Republic side." Now 22, Gibson has only five international caps, though that may start to change.

Since his encounter with McIlroy, Gibson, United's stand-out player in their run to the Carling Cup semi-finals and scorer of two goals in the win over Tottenham on Tuesday, has developed the physique to go with the talent that has brought him five United goals and an eyecatching passing range. His Old Trafford destiny is simply down to Sir Alex Ferguson's willingness to play him enough, McIlroy believes, though the former United midfielder and MUTV analyst cautioned against comparisons with Roy Keane. "Every time he gets a game he is making a stamp to the manager," McIlroy said. "What he doesn't need is comparisons with Roy Keane. Let him be his own man."