Gavin Bazunu: A deserved man of the match, there were no signs of the worrying form that saw Bazunu lose his place at Southampton at the end of the Premier League season. He made a number of good saves, particularly early on, to at least ensure the hosts were made to sweat for the win late on. 7
Darragh Lenihan: With Dara O’Shea not match fit, it was a big ask to come in under such pressurised circumstances for someone so inexperienced at international level, but the Middlesbrough man did okay and did not look out of place by any means. 6
John Egan: Couldn’t do too much about either goal and generally looked solid enough in difficult circumstances. 6
Nathan Collins: Made a couple of mistakes in possession but took his goal really well and went close to scoring a second with a finely struck effort in one of Ireland’s few promising attacking moments in the second half. 6
Matt Doherty: Had one or two positive attacking runs, but his lack of football in recent months showed, as he was sloppy in possession and struggled to deal with Greeks’ attacks at times. A late red card for a silly bit of ill discipline compounded a woeful evening. 5
Callum O’Dowda: Kenny has a lot of faith in O’Dowda by starting him but it wasn’t really repaid this evening. The penalty he conceded was avoidable while he was caught out defensively for the second goal too while also offering very little from an attacking perspective. 5
Josh Cullen: Too often a bystander as Ireland were overrun in midfield. Had one incisive through pass for Doherty in the second half but otherwise did little of note. 5
Jayson Molumby: Another player who was too often on the periphery of the game as the Greeks largely dominated midfield. Replaced by Michael Obafemi in the 80th minute and may now find his starting spot under threat after an indifferent display. 5
Will Smallbone: One of the more surprising starters. Smallbone showed one of the reasons why he was in the team with a couple of good set-piece deliveries including for Ireland’s equaliser. However, his introduction seemed to imbalance the midfield, and himself on Doherty were exposed too often down the right by the hosts. 5
Evan Ferguson: Did really well to get a flick on for Ireland’s goal and showed a few nice touches, but was isolated up front more often than not with too big a gap between the midfield and the attack. 5
Adam Idah: His selection ahead of the likes of Michael Obafemi and Mikey Johnston raised eyebrows, and ultimately Idah didn’t really do enough to justify his starting spot, albeit like Ferguson he suffered from a real lack of service. It was no surprise when an ineffectual display came to a premature end at half-time as he was replaced by Johnston. 5
Substitutes: The likes of Jason Knight, Mikey Johnston and James McClean did add a bit more energy, but struggled to lift a dire Irish performance and ultimately, did not have the desired effect. 5
Stephen Kenny: A difficult night and a result that will likely lead to renewed question marks over the Dubliner’s future as manager. Ireland were second best for much of the contest and many of his big selection calls, such as starting Idah, O’Dowda and Smallbone, failed to pay dividends. 5
Good luck girls tomorrow. Bronze probably the realistic target
Feel sorry for Kelly McGrory. Do all the hard work in qualifying only to be dropped for the final, cos another athlete who was more interested in personal success decides she now wants to be a team player
@WqM9AAv3: name of the game sadly
@WqM9AAv3: I’d imagine the rest of the team would get down on their knees and beg adeleke to start
@WqM9AAv3: erm, they actually want to win a medal. You pick your best available runners.
@WqM9AAv3: she wasn’t dropped. It’s a 6 person team, and you play your best cards in the final. They all do it. At least McGrory got to run. What about Lauren Cadden who didn’t get a run. Should we bring her in for the final because its the taking part that counts.
@WqM9AAv3: that’s how it rolls, she will get her medal if we do medal, if she is not subbed out, very unlikely to get a medal.
So it’s the best thing for her and the team to be subbed out
@WqM9AAv3: You are clueless. Go hibernate for another four years, and you can try and fail then to pretend you know a single thing about Athletics.
@WqM9AAv3: clown she couldn’t run semi as preparing for 400 final .
@WqM9AAv3: are you one of these lads who thinks we shouldn’t keep score in things and everyone would get the same medal after.
@WqM9AAv3: Not knockin McGrory but she was the weakest link in that semi final. Adeleke is a serous improvement for the final. Its basically the same as rotating your squad for the bigger games in soccer. Nothing wrong with it.
@WqM9AAv3: jed what planet are you living on
@WqM9AAv3: clueless
@WqM9AAv3: She probably knew that was going to happen. It’s cruel at times. But sports can be.
@WqM9AAv3: all the medalling teams, bar the 4×100 mens bronze for gb, are doing it. Very professional. Now go get Kelly her medal. Team Ireland!
@WqM9AAv3: it’s a meritocracy. You’re probably used to participation awards but at the Olympics that’s not how it works.
@WqM9AAv3: you think she should have not bothered with the individual? Hahaha wtf
@WqM9AAv3: win at all costs eh? No wonder the sport is clouded in controversy, performance enhancing narcs, men boxing women, athletes returning from doping bans to win medals (legit this time) athletes smashing their pb’s. Big big sigh
@WqM9AAv3: Men boxing women? Get the facts right before spouting nonsense. The ultimate test was done – are they capable of having a child? The answer is YES. Box away girls.
Hopefully a medal usa will win it jamaica most likely second all the other finalists will be up to get the bronze
@Square: USA and the Netherlands in that order. Bronze up for grabs.
@Ray Ridge: GB for silver, Netherlands bronze and gold to the girleens in green. US drop baton at last changeover whilst well ahead..
@Ray Ridge: stop will ya ireland will beat holland with RA in the team usa and jamaica top 2
@Ray Ridge: just saw u running there in the 10 thousand meters last
@Square: I wish I had a tan that good!
@Ray Ridge: netherlands aren’t better than gb, france and Jamaica. Americans to win and then it’s wide open.
@Ray Ridge: you tired yet over 30mins that race lol
@Kevin Dillon: im telling him that all day
@Kevin Dillon: Netherlands will medal. No doubt about it. Provided they don’t get the butter fingers. Forget about France.
@Square: You would be surprised how long I can go for baby!
@Ray Ridge: just wondering Ray are you from Portumna
@Ray Ridge: you’d expect the Dutch to medal alright but Bol has had a really tough week. She is a bit of a freak though
@Oliver Curley: Not from Portumna.
@munsterman: I think they will medal alright. Anything can happen in relays of course.
@Ray Ridge: FIND OUT 815 TOMMORRY USA JAMACIA IRELAND TOP 3
@Square: USA, Netherlands and GB.
Delighted. Girls will run a big race