Describing his third worldwide goal as “one of the best of his career”, Hoolahan said Ireland would have to learn not to sit back as they did after dominating Sweden for the first 60 minutes.
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But Sweden, who had until that point created little of note, launched their fightback nearly immediately and were rewarded 19 minutes from time when defender Clark – who had already forced a save from his own keeper Darren Randolph with a miscued clearance – unwittingly headed Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s cross home.
“It was a good performance and we look forward to playing Belgium on Saturday”.
Seamus Coleman’s run and cross deserved to result in a goal, but the quality of Wes Hoolahan’s finish was something to behold as he expertly guided a half-volleyed shot wide of keeper Andreas Isaksson and inside the far post to spark mass celebrations.
“To get a goal for Ireland in the Euros is a great achievement”, the modest Hoolahan said following the final whistle. The boys were unlucky in the first half, but we’ll take the point.
O’Neill added: “That’s the disappointment because we should be speaking to you here with three points on the board instead of one, and that would have given us a really great chance”.
The Irish team never looked completely like taking the lead again or returning to the excellent form they’d shown in the first half. “But the boys should be proud of themselves”.
Both teams had known that victory here would be hugely significant in a group also containing Belgium and Italy and O’Neill could not hide the dismay he felt afterwards.
Captain John O’Shea, whose late equaliser in Germany garnered a precious point towards the qualification fund, came agonisingly close to adding to his modest tally of three senior global goals when he only just failed to connect with central defensive partner Clark’s flick-on at the back post. Martin O’Neill’s side controlled the first-half of the Group E encounter in Paris and took the lead through Wes Hoolahan’s sublime half-volley after 47 minutes.
He said: “The feeling right now is disappointment more than being satisfied with a draw despite coming back (from a losing position)”.
However, Hamren absolved star man Zlatan Ibrahimovic for a poor first 50 minutes.
The goal sparked Sweden into life, and Clark had to hook a shot over the crossbar before Emil Forsberg squandered a simple chance on the rebound from a fine Darren Randolph save.
Returning to the scene of Thierry Henry’s infamous handball for France that crushed their 2010 World Cup qualifying dreams in an unforgettable playoff, Ireland were the better side for most of the game.
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Sweden were toothless in attack and misplaced several routine passes.
