Nations League B4: Republic of Ireland 0 Wales 0
IF you surveyed the results of Stephen Kenny’s short time in charge it would hardly inspire confidence. Four games played. No wins. Three scoreless draws. No goals from open play. One goal from a set piece. Out of the Euros. Limping along in the Nations League…
But you don’t have to delve too far beyond those clutch of statistics to have sympathy for the Ireland manager and his players to appreciate that progress has been made even in the eye of a quite horrific Covid storm that swept through the camp in recent days.
Over the past two games, the Republic of Ireland squad was shorn of seven players due to Covid-related issues – two (Aaron Connolly and Adam Idah) that missed last Thursday’s Euro semi-final play-off defeat and five (John Egan, Callum Robinson, Callum O’Dowda, Alan Browne and an unnamed player) for yesterday’s Nations League clash with Wales in Dublin.
If that famous premium beer did Covid nightmares, it would have to go some way to eclipse the terrible preparations the Irish camp had to endure for their last two games.
And to rub salt in the wound, it emerged that Connolly and Idah could have played in Thursday’s play-off against Slovakia following yesterday’s dramatic news that the FAI employee on the team plane had received a ‘false’ positive Covid test.
As FAI officials frantically measured the distances between the seat on the plane of their staff member with alleged Covid to Connolly and Idah, the pair were ruled out of the match by inches.
For nothing, as it transpired following a further test that dismissed any trace of the virus in the FAI official.
It remains to be seen if Connolly and Idah will re-join Ireland’s now decimated squad for Wednesday’s Nations League trip to Finland as the manager seeks replacements for Egan, Robinson, O’Dowda, Browne and the unnamed player who are currently self-isolating as well as the other half dozen players who suffered injury either before the Slovakia game or in yesterday’s encounter.
After yesterday’s drab scoreless draw with the Welsh, Matt Doherty revealed that the Irish players were told to stay in their rooms on Saturday evening after it emerged one of the squad had tested positive for Covid.
“The last few days have been quite challenging – obviously after the play-off defeat and we flew back quite late (6am), and now all the Covid stuff that has happened,” said Doherty, who was forced to move into central defence yesterday following an early knock to Kevin Long.
“Last evening we were meant to have a meeting and it didn’t happen and we were told to stay in our rooms. Nothing was really confirmed until this morning. But we obviously had enough players to play the game and we played well.”
An hour before the Welsh game, the FAI said: “Stephen Kenny's Ireland squad has received one positive Covid19 test result ahead of today's Nations League game against Wales at the Aviva Stadium, after the latest round of UEFA testing.
“A player - who cannot be named at this time - tested positive on Friday after a negative test on Monday but his case is not related in any way to that of the backroom team member who tested positive on Monday last.
“Talks with the HSE late last night identified four other players as close contacts of this positive case and they have been stood down from the match-day squad for today's game against Wales.”
After yesterday’s game, Kenny was criticised for describing the unnamed FAI official, who subsequently received the ‘false’ positive, as “non-essential” – which appeared to be the manager intimating that travel arrangements for the Slovakia trip might have been better handled.
“He wasn’t taking the free-kicks, do you know what I mean?” Kenny responded.
“Everyone is important. I don’t have a hierarchy… The point I was making was he wasn’t a player.”
Kenny went on to describe the FAI official as a “great guy” and one whom he had a “great relationship” with.
With the spectre of Covid casting a long shadow over the international game following positive results in the French and Israeli national teams, attention finally turned to Ireland’s actual performance against Wales yesterday.
In a game that produced just three attempts on target – one for Ireland and two for Wales – just seven corners and three off-sides, it was far from a classic.
In truth, it made for painful viewing at times but the home side were marginally the better team and deserved immense credit for the way in which they absorbed the Covid-related absentees as well as the disappointment of exiting the Euro qualifiers just three days earlier.
They also were forced to play the last 10 minutes with 10 men after James McClean was sent off for a lunging challenge that further weakens the Irish squad for the Finland trip.
Replacing the injured David McGoldrick, lone striker Shane Long had the best chance of the day on 55 minutes but he headed over the Welsh bar after a perfect cross from the impressive Enda Stevens.
Harry Wilson tested Darren Randolph’s reflexes on 27 minutes before the Ireland goalkeeper was fortunate not to give away a penalty after fumbling a cross and barging into Ethan Ampadu.
In the 33rd minute, Robbie Brady narrowly missed the target after being gifted a pass from Wilson.
Winning his second start with the seniors, former U21 captain Jayson Molumby showed plenty of urgency and forced the issue from central midfield at times while McClean put in a strong shift on Ireland’s left side.
At the back, Matt Doherty went some way to exorcising his penalty shoot-out miss in Bratislava by moving to central defence following Kevin Long’s early withdrawal after a collision with Kieffer Moore and fitted in seamlessly alongside Shane Duffy.
Wales, for their part, never found any rhythm in their play but Aaron Ramsey put that down to Ireland pressing them.
“I think Ireland have changed their game a little bit,” said the Juventus midfielder.
“They press a lot more now and they like to play with the ball so we had to try and adapt to that and at times we found it difficult.”
There were a handful of positives from an Irish perspective – Duffy, Doherty, Molumby, McClean and Stevens among them – but they still haven’t scored from open play in four outings.
“Genuinely, it’s not something I’m concerned about,” Kenny said.
“We had to make an incredible amount of changes and a lot of pace was missing from the team with all those changes.
“Today wasn’t easy with everything that went on. I do believe we achieved a lot in the game against Slovakia and with the players to come in as well we’re going to get better. I do feel we’re going to get better.”
It may have finished scoreless in Dublin yesterday – but it felt more like Covid 1 Ireland 0.
Ratings
Darren Randolph: Made an uncharacteristic error from a simple cross and could easily have given away a first-half penalty. He did make a fine save from a Harry Wilson effort. A quieter second half. 6
Matt Doherty: Smooth in most of his work especially having been pushed into a central defensive role after Kevin Long had to go off injured. Not put under a great deal of pressure but did well. 7
Enda Stevens: A couple of poor bits of control early on but he remains one of the team’s most accomplished footballers. Always looks dangerous when he enters opposition territory and provided the perfect cross for Shane Long’s chance. 7
Shane Duffy: A mostly comfortable afternoon. Defended well and struck some raking passes out of defence. Also functioned well alongside emergency centre back Matt Doherty. 7
Kevin Long: Recalled to the starting line-up but his afternoon was over after 24 minutes after a collision with Kieffer Moore. Not on long enough to be rated
Jayson Molumby: There’s definitely a player in the former U21 captain. Might be a bit one-paced but showed good urgency in a bid to harass the Welsh midfield. Made a few good breaks from his midfield position. Decent display. 6
Conor Houirhane: Anchored the midfield and might have pressed the ball better. As a consequence, he invited the Welsh midfield onto him a little and Ireland’s defensive line was too deep at times. More effective beside a James McCarthy-type player. 5
Jeff Hendrick: You don’t know what you’re getting from game to game with the Dubliner. Yesterday, you didn’t know what you were getting from one possession to the next. Too inconsistent even within games despite being played in his more favoured number 10 possession. 5
Robbie Brady: Called ashore with 15 minutes remaining and will be better for the minutes in his legs. Capitalised on a poor Welsh back pass but missed the target. Never afraid to be ambitious in possession but no cigar with any of his forward passes. 6
Shane Long: A thankless task playing the lone striker’s role but still could have held up a couple of passes better than he did. Missed the best chance of the game when his 55th minute header went over the bar. Should have scored. Can’t be faulted for effort. 5
James McClean: Probably could have avoided his late red card especially being on a yellow. Up to that point, the Derry man had applied himself as he always does. Full of endeavour, committed and excellent defensively. 6
Subs:
Cyrus Christie: Always gives everything. Took him a while to get to the pace of the game and improved as the game progressed. 6
Daryl Horgan: The Preston wide man had a decent header and failed to convert the rebound. 5
Sean Maguire: Didn't get a lot of supply as the Irish went down to 10 men towards the end. 5
Josh Cullen: Not on long enough to be rated
