Before the historic Rugby Union international between Ireland and England last month at Croke Park, a photograph was taken of a protester wielding a placard reading: "No To Foreign Games". The individual's stance against the playing of Rugby Union and Association Football at the Gaelic sports stronghold was undermined by the fact that he was wearing a Celtic strip and tracksuit. Chances are that his strip also had Aiden McGeady's name on the back.

The war on irony is clearly being won in the Emerald Isle.

So the "soccer" posts have been erected, the glitches in the turf smoothed out after the rugby chaps did their worst, and 74,000 tickets snapped up for this afternoon's vital Group D qualifier between the Republic of Ireland and Wales. The stage is set for the first ever international soccer match at the home of the Gaelic Athletic Association and the anticipation on the streets of Dublin is palpable.

Steve Staunton, the Republic of Ireland manager, is no stranger to the steep stands of Croke Park, having played Gaelic football there as a teenager for Louth in a Leinster under-16 championship final against Kildare. He lost that one, but knows the importance of three points today. The brickbats are out for the Ireland manager after an inauspicious start to their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.

The opening 1-0 group defeat to Germany was understandable, the subsequent 5-2 caning by Cyprus less so. Since then, they have squirreled seven points from a possible nine, but the most recent three points came in a laboured victory over San Marino, which required a 95th-minute winner from Stephen Ireland.

One newspaper depicted Staunton as a Muppet, transposing his head on to Kermit the Frog's. "I haven't murdered anyone . . . some of the criticism has been way over the top," said Staunton, in response to the avalanche of abuse after the San Marino game, which left them third in the group, three points behind the Czech Republic and Germany with a game more played.

The Ireland manager argues, unconvincingly, that he is presiding over a transitional period. Whatever, he is under major pressure to pick up full points against Wales today and then on Wednesday against Slovakia at the same venue.

Celtic's Aiden McGeady hopes to play a pivotal role in making that happen. "It's a massive game and I hope to start," said the 20-year-old, speaking to The Herald from the squad base in Portmarnock earlier this week. "I've not been involved through injury in the last couple of games. I missed the San Marino game and my last appearance was the San Marino game before that, when I came on in our 5-0 win. I'll just wait and hope this time around.

"It's the first time football has been played at Croke Park so we're making a bit of history. The stadium is absolute quality and it will be amazing when it is full. The pitch is maybe not the best, but that is because the rugby was played there recently. Wales are a decent team. They are a bit like us, up and down."

McGeady is the Scots-born youngster who chose to play for Ireland, a decision which has drawn vilification from away supporters at grounds in Scotland. He made his senior debut in a friendly win against Jamaica at The Valley in June 2004 and continues to live with the fallout. "At away grounds I still get booed and fans shouting at me.

It doesn't bother me. I don't think it will ever go away. It's just something for the fans to do."

Born and bred in Glasgow, he qualifies for Ireland through his grandparents, who hail from Gweedore in Donegal. As a youngster, McGeady was a regular visitor. "I visited them as a kid on the holidays - summer, Easter and sometimes Christmas. I've got an aunt and uncle in Dublin too. My dad probably sees himself as more Irish than Scottish."

McGeady's immediate family and Irish relatives will be in attendance at today's match. Though he has never felt the need to talk up his Irish credentials, it is undeniable that he has a greater affinity with the country than some of the "Plastic Paddies" who populated the squad during the Jack Charlton era. "You get to like a place the more you go, but it's hard for me to make it over so often now," he reflects. "I only got three weeks off last year, but I'm going to go over on a wee holiday this year.

"I have seen a lot of the country through playing with the Irish under-age teams. The people are friendly and warm, not too different from Scotland in that way. Ever since I got involved at under-15 level, I've been comfortable playing for Ireland. The more you play, the more you get used to the set-up. I've never wanted to do anything else."

Until recently, only Andy Keogh of Wolves had made the transition from the same youth side as McGeady to the senior squad, though the impact of his Celtic team-mate Darren O'Dea this season has now earned him a call-up. Distinguished performances against AC Milan in the Champions League have made the Dubliner's case for inclusion unignorable and he could make his debut today.

"Darren has progressed so well," enthused McGeady, who is rooming with O'Dea this week. "I played in youth teams with him and, to be honest, I haven't been surprised at all at how well he's done. He had a couple of great games against Milan and it's great that he's been recognised at international level. He always looks so composed. Every fan wants to see boys who have come through the system."

Eleven days shy of his 21st birthday, McGeady knows he is still a work in progress. Under Gordon Strachan he has developed into a more rounded team player. Celtic rely heavily on their wide players to make things happen and McGeady is satisfied with his development as a creative force at Parkhead.

"When I was younger I was trying to beat everybody," he said. "Since then I've really progressed as a player. My defensive work has improved and I also think my crossing is better. I have scored more goals this season and also provided more assists. In fact, I always look more at my assists than goals."

In the second leg of their clash with AC Milan, McGeady was deployed in the hole, his favoured position, and took umbrage with a reporter recently who suggested that he hadn't covered himself in glory in the San Siro. "I thought I played well," was his curt response. He did. It is a position which better suits his vision and quick feet.

"I played in that position when I was younger and it gives me a bit more freedom. You're not always relying on someone to find you with the ball. You have the freedom to make things happen. Milan was a great game, but it was disappointing the way we went out.

"They were really pushing for a goal and created a lot of chances but if we had taken them to penalties then who knows. I didn't find out I was playing in the hole until the day of the game. It was just sort of sprung on me. It was a surprise that the manager played me there in such a big game, but I think he wanted to try something different."

McGeady will renew acquaintances with his former Celtic team-mate Craig Bellamy this afternoon. The striker, now a regular with Liverpool, made a huge impact in his loan spell at Celtic Park in the second half of the 2004-05 season, scoring nine goals in 15 games. Stop Bellamy today and Ireland will stop Wales.

"At three o'clock on a Saturday, Alan Shearer loved him and so did I," chuckled Sir Bobby Robson, Staunton's venerable assistant, when asked for his memories of Bellamy earlier this week, who he managed at Newcastle.

One of Bellamy's exploits was sending Shearer abusive text messages. A more sinister edge to his character emerged last month when he attempted to hit current Anfield team-mate John Arne Riise with a golf club at their training camp in Portugal.

McGeady confirms that Bellamy kept his golf clubs in his bag during his spell in Scotland and speaks warmly of the Welsh striker's impact in the East End. "Bellamy was quality at Celtic and he's still doing very well at Liverpool," he reflected. "There are a lot of different images of him but I always found him to be fine, a good guy. I enjoyed playing with him, he was a great link-up, someone that could play on the shoulder of the last defender and you knew if you played the ball over the top he would get to it."