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Outstanding performance is a template for this Irish team’s future ambitions

Gary Breen

Relocation of Knight was central to super display. Ireland were compact, disciplined and executed the ideal plan

Ireland's Michael Obafemi celebrates with Jayson Molumby after scoring their side's third goal against Scotland. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

June 13 2022 02:30 AM

Before Saturday’s game, Stephen Kenny said he needed a ‘strong’ performance from his side to take the three points.

Few could disagree given the quality of Scotland’s squad evidenced by where their players operate.

What we got from the lads was much, much more than that.

This was an outstanding performance from front to back, everything that you would want from a definitive Irish display.

Technically good, tenacious, brave, controlled and positionally aware.

All with our incredible support in full voice; the performance and atmosphere created was a joy to behold.

I was fortunate to be there as a co-commentator for Premier Sports. I must admit, I found it quite hard to contain my reactions of sheer joy because there seemed to be so many positives unfolding before my eyes.

Ireland’s home record in recent years has been poor but Lansdowne Road was everything it has to be; a brilliant place for us to support the team and an absolute nightmare for a visiting side.

Without that advantage, it’s very hard to qualify for tournaments.

In football, not everything you unearth is by design. It happens more than people within the game are willing to admit.

Four games in 10 days will test the depth of any squad, but it can allow you to hit on the right formula.

The starting 11 for Saturday was a product of such a demanding schedule, it’s not a combination of players that anyone would have sketched down at the beginning of this window.

But they were absolutely brilliant. The framework they were instructed to work within was perfect for them.

Crucially, their execution of it was almost faultless. This is a young and inexperienced team which will continue to develop and because of their age they are liable to be inconsistent.

What they need is a consistent shape and game-plan which works for them, a template they can excel within.

Stephen Kenny’s decision to drop Jason Knight into a system with three central midfielders was absolutely pivotal to the result.

We looked so compact and disciplined and it provided the platform for our attacking play. Happily, there was plenty of that.

What especially pleased me is that it was maintained for the whole match. What about that second-half moment where three players, with Scott Hogan to the forefront, pushed Scotland back to the endline and blocked them from getting out?

It was cheered like a goal. And Ireland were 3-0 up at the time. They were relentless.

There was no lull in the display, no moment where you felt that ‘Scotland are really in this’.

Sitting down afterwards to reflect on it, I tried to imagine what was being asked of each individual Irish player.

In selecting a team, you try and determine the components that will allow a player to influence a fixture to the best of their ability.

Can you get them to play to their strengths?

Every Irishman involved in the game succeeded in doing that. It’s worth listing the starters one by one and what the likely demand was.

Could Caoimhín Kelleher give the team that calm when the opposing team start to exert pressure? Yes. He gathered crosses well and showcased his incredible passing range. Coolness personified.

Did Alan Browne have the athleticism and temperament to negate Andy Robertson, the best attacking full-back in Europe, and make him defend while also continue to be a goal threat? Yes.

Was James McClean able to match the physicality of Anthony Ralston, make him do more defending than he is used to while also setting the tone by harassing players and energising the crowd? Yes.

Could Nathan Collins provide both short and long passes that penetrated whilst stifling any threat from centre forward or their attacking midfielders? Yes.

John Egan? Could he do similar to Collins whilst providing the extra leadership you want from a senior player carrying an injury that would have normally ruled him out? Yes.

Could Shane Duffy physically dominate both boxes, creating sheer panic at corners? Yes. There were a few difficult moments playing out but the team responded well.

Josh Cullen? In his third game in a week, was he up to providing the continuity in possession that is so vital at international level and taking control of the areas where these fixtures are won and lost? Yes.

What about Jayson Molumby? Did he have the reserves of energy to continuously press the Scottish midfield, especially in situations where they had a man over, while still being able to get out and block their wide areas? Yes.

And he was also breaking forward to support Ireland’s attacking play.

Jason Knight’s brief? In a new position, could he adapt, take possession in tight areas on the half-turn and drive forward to bring the whole team up the pitch? Yes.

After mixed fortunes as a starter, could Troy Parrott impose himself on three bigger centre-halves to give Ireland a sniff of second balls, while also tracking back out of possession to hunt their deep lying midfielder so they weren’t able to build play? Yes.

And that’s before you consider the goal threat and interaction with his strike partner Michael Obafemi.

The challenge for Obafemi? On his first start, did he have the ability to reduce the Scottish defence to a state of panic by being a willing outlet down the sides and over the top? Could he drop back into the number 10 position, link with runners in behind and have the confidence and ability to execute magical things from distance? Yes to both.

Collectively, could this team show supporters what it means to pull on the green jersey? Yes.

And perform when the pressure is on? Yes.

Onwards and upwards.

Outstanding performance is a template for this Irish team’s future ambitions

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