1. Hoolahan the catalyst for passing game
IRELAND’S MIDFIELD FOUND it difficult to put their foot on the ball in Friday’s win over Switzerland, with central pairing David Meyler and Stephen Quinn really struggling to control the play in particular.
Among the 10 changes in personnel tonight were the inclusions of Glenn Whelan, James McCarthy, Eunan O’Kane and Wes Hoolahan as Martin O’Neill went narrow with a diamond foursome.
And the difference was staggering. Whereas the team rarely played through the middle against the Swiss, there was a fluidity in possession here with Hoolahan leading the way with his invention and eagerness to make things happen.
Having come late to international football, the Norwich City schemer said in an interview this week that he will consider calling time on his Ireland career after Euro 2016 as he turns 34 this May.
Whenever the day does come, Hoolahan will be sorely missed in a green shirt.
2. Nightmare night for Elliot
Ireland strikers have been dropping like flies over the past week but goalkeeper Rob Elliot was the latest player to be struck down with injury with the game just 16 minutes old.
Rob Elliot will have been buzzing to get his chance between the sticks after working hard to produce his best season to date at club level. When Miroslav Stoch struck home the opening goal, however, Elliot’s stud got caught in the ground and he fell to the ground with what has been described as a “serious knee injury”.
Darren Randolph was called into action earlier than he would have expected and the West Ham stopper is a shoe-in to start in the first of Ireland’s Euro 2016 Group E.
It does appear to open the door for Shay Given, who could potentially profit from injuries to Elliot and Stoke team-mate Jack Butland if he gets a run in the Potters team and works his way back into the Ireland’s final 23-man squad.
3. Christie and O’Kane show promise
After watching Cyrus Christie put in an excellent display at right back, O’Neill praised the Derby County man who he described as “an understudy to an absolutely top class full-back”.
On just his fourth appearance in an Ireland jersey, the 23-year-old cemented his place as back-up to Seamus Coleman and proved that he would be a worthy option if called upon at Euro 2016.
Another player who did his chances of featuring at this level in the future no harm was Derry native O’Kane.
As he did at Bournemouth during the early stages of this season, the midfielder took advantage of an injury to Harry Arter and got game time in both of this week’s matches — and he didn’t look out of his depth before coming off on 65 minutes tonight.
France may have come to early, but expect to the 25-year-old named in squads when the World Cup qualifying campaign comes around in September.
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Was a bit sloppy, but might be just the kick up the behind we need to focus.
Thought the atmosphere at the Aviva was very quiet, but I would expect that to be louder for the NZ game.
Who was the ejit shouting at Sexton before he was about to kick, it was an Irish accent, Dublin I think. Seemed to be coming from the East stand! I couldn’t make out what he was shouting though. Happened at least twice.
@SPQH: It’s the same every year for the November internationals. Much larger allocation of tickets is given to ticketmaster which gives people access to tickets who are not members of their local club.
These are split into two categories
1. Genuine supporters & Newbies who are there to see the game, shout the team on and enjoy the atmosphere.
2. People that are there for the occasion and are only there to have a good time drinking themselves to a blunder. Nothing wrong with a pint during the game but getting up 4 times a half and not paying any attention to the game.
I’m afraid the latter are much more prominent of the two unfortunately. It’s why i stopped going to games. There’s a parent and a child who would love to see ireland play but cant get tickets meanwhile theres a fella with a €110 ticket talking to his mate about bullshit on his 3rd pint of the half.
@Californialov3: 8 pints in an hour and a half you wouldn’t even know you were in Dublin by the end of it
@Aaron Buckley: Probably a heavy estimation but between pints and pissing they never sit down !
@Californialov3: spot on. At the munster Leinster game I had the misfortune to be at the end of a row seat. There was a group of four inside me and between toilet trips and pint runs I must have had to get up 20 times in the first hour alone. 2 of them eventually left and didn’t return at that stage. I’d say none of them watched any of the match.
@Jim Demps: The Darby games in thomond especially Munster v Leinster bring out these clowns every year. Lads and Ladies that are only there only to get pissed and chat very loudly throughout the entire game. Guaranteed these people wouldn’t be caught dead in the cold depths of winter in the terraces/stands watching Munster take on the likes of Treviso. It’s good money for the club from ticket sales but Christ it’s very annoying.
@Californialov3: I’m in the first category I suppose. It’s really hard to get tickets for the Six Nations in Ireland. As I live in Amsterdam, it’s easier to trave to Rome, Edinburgh or Paris during that time of year. So I’m glad that there’s a decent chance to get a good seat during the November Internationals. And while in Dublin, you should enjoy a pint of Guinness (or two) during a half :-) I agree that the atmosphere wasn’t electric last Saturday, but was glad I made it. Perfect weekend with U2 on Friday altogether
@Stephan Antuma: Jesus by all means have a pint or two. Rugby and pints are like ham and cheese but there’s a limit and these people are far beyond it. The try to avoid this by putting majority of the Six Nations games through the clubs however that leaves people like you by the way side, which is both frustrating and sad. Have you tried to become a part of the Irish Rugby Supporters club? That seems to be the best way to get tickets without being a part of a local club!
@Jim Demps: A waste of four tickets. I may sound slightly naive when i say this but i feel that theirs a responsibility on the match goer’s to support the team as much as possible. A personal bugbear of mine is people not bothering to sing any anthem or barely moving their lips. The irish rugby team is a incredible team built on huge adversity and history and you can’t build up the courage to belt it out? Whatever about not singing one or the other but at least belt it out!
@borgig: Yeah, the ‘where’s the goalie?’ mob always seem to snaffle tickets and clack up and down the steps for toilet trips and more booze.
@Californialov3: the WRU tried out a policy in one of the grand stands where alcohol was banned during the recent scotland v wales match which was exactly for your latter point. They’re only trying it out at the moment though
@Californialov3: the one to drink at will be the USA game. Presumably there will be tons of American student there who don’t know the game anyway.
The NZ game however is a very different story
@Californialov3: That’s exactly why I stopped going to Ireland games.
I used to love the old Lansdowne Road even though it was a bit of a kip. I went to all the games for years.
Can’t stand the aviva. People constantly walking up and down the aisles going to the bar. Can’t they sit and watch the game for 40 minutes?
There is plenty of time to have a few pints after.
one way to stop that is to only permit drinking indoor at bar but don’t think they will do that because they depend on sales