Hibs win would help Stack forget luck of the Irish

Published on Friday 20 November 2009 22:53

GRAHAM Stack was among the millions of Irishmen who spent Wednesday night screaming at the television and throwing the remote control around the living room.

And the Hibernian goalkeeper believes the only way he will get over Thierry Henry's handball against the Republic of Ireland will be taking three Clydesdale Bank Premier League points at St Mirren today.

The 28-year-old is one of a handful of Irish players in Hibs' first-team squad who were devastated by France's World Cup play-off victory, with striker Anthony Stokes actually in the Stade de France on Wednesday.

Former Under-21 international Stack said: "I was at home watching it on the sofa; threw the controller a few times and woke the kids up from shouting at that TV. If it was Robbie Keane, would we be talking about it? Of course we wouldn't be talking about it. Ireland would be in the World Cup and we'd all be down the pub drinking Guinness. But, unfortunately, that's not the case; we're all drowning our sorrows."

Stack reckons the way for him and his team-mates to get over the result is winning at St Mirren Park. "That's the only thing that's going to cheer me up, if we go over there and win," he said.

Meanwhile, St Mirren goalkeeper Paul Gallacher remains upbeat about his Scotland prospects despite the possible international return of Allan McGregor.

"When a new man comes in and if I'm playing well and I get in then, I will be absolutely delighted. But, at the moment, there are three goalkeepers ahead of me," he said.