International friendly: Republic of Ireland 1 Switzerland 0
IN THE end it was one of those Ireland friendlies. The kind that starts well but gradually fizzles out, although Derry’s Eunan O’Kane could have added to Ciaran Clark’s second minute opener right at the death.
O’Kane was one of trio from the Oak Leaf county that finished the game - Shane Duffy and James McClean were the others. Duffy was one of the plus points on the night and he did well in the centre of defence alongside Ciaran Clark who put Aston Villa’s wretched form behind him with an assured display.
Behind them, Darren Randolph did everything asked of him and the full-backs continued their recent good form with Robbie Brady dangerous from set-pieces and Seamus Coleman, skipper on the night, defensively sound and able to hurt the Swiss offensively once or twice.
In midfield, David Meyler and Stephen Quinn worked hard but found the going tough at times. Quinn was caught in possession too often and James McCarthy gave Ireland a more solid look when he replaced him in the second-half.
On the flanks, Aiden McGeady flitted in and out of the game while debutant Alan Judge showed a few nice touches but was unable to make a telling impression. Up front, Shane Long worked tirelessly and should have scored in the first-half when his header cannoned off the bar. He formed a physical and mobile front two with Kevin Doyle early on.
Doyle was forced off midway through the first-half and early reports suggest he has a “nasty gash” and there is nothing broken. Martin O’Neill will be glad to hear that and along with Judge he was able to blood Aberdeen winger Jonathon Hayes and O’Kane who would have done his case for a place in the squad for Euro 2016 no harm at all if he had taken that late chance.
The Aviva Stadium was one of the few places in Dublin where alcohol was served on Friday and that may have played a part in a rousing rendition of the national anthem from a decent crowd. It got Ireland off to a flying start. Long stretched to poke a hopeful ball to McGeady out on the left wing and McGeady combined with Robbie Brady to win a corner.
Brady’s first attempt was cleared behind but his second fizzed to the back post where Duffy headed it back across goal and Clarke stooped to send a thumping finish through the flailing arms of Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer. The Republic looked to build on their goal and Alan Judge’s cross was well held by the Swiss ’keeper.
At the other end, Duffy cleared decisively from Michael Lang’s cross and Blerim Dzemaili shot high over the bar after Stephen Quinn had been caught in possession. Quinn worked hard in midfield alongside Meyler but the Ireland pair found the going tough against Switzerland’s Behrami, Dzemaili and Breel Embolo.
It was Embolo who caused the next alarm for the Irish when he broke from his own half after Brady had over-hit a corner and Duffy did well to get back and clear the danger. Doyle won another corner for Ireland and got on the end of Brady’s delivery with a clever back heel that was cleared off the line but Switzerland were doing most of the attacking.
First Seferovic headed just over after Embolo had outmuscled Brady, then Lang – unmarked at the back post - headed straight at Randolph. Long and Doyle continued to chase every ball and Doyle’s bravery may well have scuppered his chances of making the plane for France in the summer.
After two years in the international wilderness the Colorado Rapids striker went in with a typically full-blooded challenge on Fabian Schar. He chased the breaking ball but it was soon obvious that he was injured and he was taken to hospital with a “deep gash” in his leg.
Murphy replaced him but it was Long who had the next chance for Ireland. Coleman got forward for the first time and clipped in a cross to the middle of the six-yard box where the Ireland frontman rose unmarked and smashed a header off the bar. He really should have scored. Then Meyler over-hit his pass when Murphy was threatening on the right of the Swiss penalty area and from the corner Judge – desperate to get involved in the game – headed just wide.
The sides cantered in at the break with Ireland ahead and they began the second half brightly when Murphy broke down the left but his cross was just too high for Long. The Swiss kept the ball with calm assurance and probed for gaps in the Irish rearguard. Dzemaili threaded the ball through to Embolo but he dragged his shot wide under pressure from Clark.
Long and Murphy took turns to help out in midfield but the visitors continued to threaten and Dzemaili headed straight at Randolph when well placed. At the other end Murphy showed strength to win the ball and pace to break away from his marker but blazed wide. He was soon replaced and there was time for both sides to have scoring chances before the finish.
First, Swiss substitute Shai Tarashaj’s shot bobbled wide and then O’Kane seized on poor pass from Gelson Fernandes. He shot wide but Ireland got the win and they’ll take a few performances from last night too.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND RATINGS
Darren Randolph: Had little to do as he was well protected by his central defenders, but pulled off a smart 35th-minute save to keep out Granit Xhaka's deflected shot - 7
Seamus Coleman (Capt): Found himself up against it defensively as the Swiss frontline passed and moved fluently, but was prominent going forward and provided the cross from which Shane long hit the bar - 6
Shane Duffy: Solid at the back and a threat from set-pieces, it was he who provided the assist for Ciaran Clark's goal - 7
Ciaran Clark: Like Duffy, commanding in defence and dangerous in the opposition penalty area and got his reward with a second international goal - 8
Robbie Brady: As productive as ever from set-pieces, but found the defensive duties of the left-back role more of a challenge - 6
Alan Judge: Struggled to get into the game as he swapped wings with McGeady before the break, but headed just wide from a 43rd-minute Brady corner - 5
David Meyler (O'Kane, 61 mins): Industrious in the middle of the pitch as he worked to cover his central defenders and drive the team forward - 6
Stephen Quinn (McCarthy, 61 mins): Combined well with Meyler in the middle in an effort to keep Ireland moving forward - 7
Aiden McGeady (Hayes, 61 mins): Started brightly and caused significant early problems for the Swiss, but faded badly - 5
Shane Long (McClean, 84 mins): A real handful for the Switzerland defence, who struggled to contain him both in the air and on the floor, and he was denied a 15th goal for his country by the crossbar - 7
Kevin Doyle (Murphy, 27 mins): Might have scored with a cheeky 11th-minute back-heel, but left the pitch in agony on a stretcher just 16 minutes later after being hurt in a challenge with Norwich defender Timm Klose - 6
SUBSTITUTES
Daryl Murphy (Hoolahan, 79 mins): Worked hard to support Long before himself being replaced - 6
Jonny Hayes: Struggled to get involved as the rhythm of the game was interrupted by substitutions - 5
Eunan O'Kane: Tried to exploit the space behind the Swiss defence as the game opened up and fired just wide late on - 6
James McCarthy: As tidy as usual in the middle of the field as the game became increasingly stretched - 6
Wes Hoolahan: Had little time in which to work his magic, although his vision helped to limit Switzerland as they tried to find a way back into the game - 6
James McClean: His pace provided an outlet with the visitors taking chances, but his involvement was fleeting - 6
MATCH STATS
Republic of Ireland: Randolph, Coleman, Clark, Duffy, Brady, Meyler, Quinn, Judge, McGeady, Long, Doyle; Subs: D Murphy for Long (26), E O’Kane for Meyler (60), J Hayes for McGeady (60), J McCarthy for Quinn (60), W Houlihan for Murphy (78), J McClean for Long (83)
Switzerland: Sommer, Klose, Lang, Embolo, Seferovic, Xhaka, Behrami, Rodriguez, Dzemaili, Mehmedi, Schar; Subs: R Steffan for Seferovic (60), P Kasami for Mehmedi (70), S Tarashaj for Dzemaili (70), G Fernandes for Behrami (70), JF Moubandje for Rodriguez (77), S Widmer for Lang (81); Yellow card: Dzemaili (39)
Referee: M Zelinka (Czech Republic)
Attendance: 35,450
