Debutant Barry Cotter has thanked exiting Blues boss Mick McCarthy and his assistant Terry Connor for giving him “the best day of [his] life so far” and Town fans for giving him a standing ovation.
Cotter, who joined the Blues from Limerick in January for €80,000 (around £70,000), made an impressive Town debut at right wing-back, having played most of his U23s football since coming to the club at centre-half.
"Yesterday was a very proud day for my family and I making my full professional debut in the EFL Championship [for] Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich Town FC,” the 19-year-old wrote on social media.
"Words cannot describe the respect I have for him buying me from Ireland and giving me the opportunity to go out on such a big stage and express myself so soon.
"It has been a pleasure working for him and TC. Thank you for giving me the best day of my life so far and I would like to thank the fans for welcoming me with open arms and for the standing ovation at the end. Also happy to have started my career with a three points at home!”
Speaking prior to walking out of his press conference announcing his departure having described fans' reaction to Cotter’s substitution as "disgraceful”, McCarthy had praise for the Republic of Ireland U19 international.
"Barry Cotter caught everybody’s eye, another one that it looks like we’ve done really well on," McCarthy said.
"He’s just got personality, he’s got a twinkle in his eye, he’s got technical ability, he’s quick and powerful, he’s got everything to be a player. I’ve just fancied him ever since he walked through the door.
"He came as a centre-half, I said ‘No chance, he’ll be a right-back’ and that’s what he’s going to be.
"He’s going to be a good player for Ipswich Town. He’s been a really good signing. If that’s his standard on his debut then he's only going to get better.
"He’s great, he’s not a shy boy, he’s a great fella, that’s why I put him in. I knew it wouldn’t faze him, he’s got really good ability as well.”
Was his withdrawal pre-planned? "Not at all, he was knackered. I said to him at half-time, he had his socks down, I said, ‘You tell me if you’re struggling’.
"He’d just let the wide player run on him twice and, of course, he wasn’t going to tell me because he wants to stay on the pitch.
"And that’s the art of management, knowing when to take him off and Wardy was brilliant, he was great.”