Following the respectable performance of the national team in the 2002 World Cup, the team's fortunes have subsequently declined, under the management of Mick McCarthy and his successors, first Brian Kerr, and then Steve Staunton.
The resulting furore caused Keane, the outstanding Irish player of his generation, to resign from the squad before the tournament started, and he was also dismissed by the team manager, Mick McCarthy.
Mick Jagger | Joseph McCarthy | Cormac McCarthy | Eugene McCarthy | Mick Taylor | Mick Ronson | Paul McCarthy | Mick Molloy | McCarthy | Jenny McCarthy | Mick Foley | Mick Doohan | Andrew McCarthy | Mick Veivers | Mick Goodrick | Mick Anglo | Mary McCarthy | Mick Napier | Mick Karn | Mick Harris | Mick Channon | Mary McCarthy (author) | John McCarthy | Shawna McCarthy | Nobu McCarthy | Mick Scott | Mick Rock | Mick Mercer | Mick McCarthy | Mick Harvey |
However as neither Jack Charlton nor Mick McCarthy capped any player from the League of Ireland during their tenure, Paul had to contend himself with captaining the LOI select side on many occasions.
The band split up in 1993, with singer Mick McCarthy and bassist Tony Owen forming Perfume, who enjoyed the patronage of BBC Radio 1 DJs Steve Lamacq and Jo Whiley, having a minor hit in 1996 with "Haven't Seen You".