It all kicked off at the Aviva Stadium in the aftermath of Ireland’s win over Kazakhstan. Noel King didn’t take kindly to some questioning by RTE’s Tony O’Donoghue while the panel responded with Eamon Dunphy labelling King a ‘bully’. Nasty stuff tonight overshadowing a win for the Boys in Green that could secure a second spot seeding for the Euro 2016 draw.
Ireland’s performance in Astana in the opening game on the road to Brazil set off alarm bells. A smash and grab raid at the death with a Robbie Keane penalty and a late show from substitute Kevin Doyle earned Giovanni Trapattoni a scarcely deserved victory. Ireland’s low morale and rudderless game-plan meant even the minnows knew how to trouble us. The cat was out of the bag.
Greg Bolger’s stunning strike against Sligo Rovers sent St. Patrick’s Athletic on their way to the league title.