Mick McCarthy 2002: Saipan, the World Cup and the end of the road for Mick.

The final episode of the first Mick McCarthy era sees yet another drama filled year off the field in what was the last embers of a colourful regime. 2002 began with such optimism in the buildup to the World Cup finals before disaster struck in Saipan. Despite a heroic World Cup showing from a young Ireland, the writing was on the wall for McCarthy after an awful start to the Euro 2004 campaign.