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Robbie Brady celebrates. Ryan Byrne/INPHO

A night to cherish for Ireland as they fight back for thrilling win in Finland

After falling behind in first half, goals from Liam Scales and Robbie Brady secured 2-1 victory to allay relegation fears in Nations League

Nations League, Group 2 League B

Finland 1

Republic of Ireland 2

A NIGHT OF glorious firsts for the Republic of Ireland under manager Heimir Hallgrรญmsson.

Letโ€™s start with the big one: a first win of this Nations League campaign.

Not only that, this 2-1 win over Finland in Helsinki is the first time Ireland have fought back from conceding first to win a competitive game since beating Kazakhstan in October 2013. More than a decade on and the Ireland fans can cherish another fantastic night like this after a thrilling 88th winner from Robbie Brady following a stunning assist from substitute Festy Ebosele.

Yep, you guessed it, his first assist, coming after Liam Scalesโ€™ first goal in green cancelled out Joel Pohjanpaloโ€™s opener in the first half when he capitalised on a disastrous Nathan Collins under hit back pass.

So not only do Ireland now have their first win on the board in Group 2 of League B, but this is the first away victory in this competition since it began six years ago.

Hallgrรญmsson is the fourth manager in that time and barely a wet week โ€“ and boy was it absolutely lashing here in Helsinki the day before kick off โ€“ into his reign he can chalk off this precious milestone.

Signs of life and signs of progress. Finally. That is what Ireland needed, and not just to allay fears of relegation to halt the โ€œdownward spiralโ€ as Hallgrรญmsson described what he inherited since the FAI opted not to renew Stephen Kennyโ€™s contract last November.

Of course, the problems had been festering and the monster wrapping its tentacles around the international team had grown strong long before the Dubliner assumed the job from Mick McCarthy just as the Covid-19 pandemic also took hold on the world.

Of the starting XI that Hallgrรญmsson named here in Helsinki, seven were handed their debuts by the Icelanderโ€™s predecessor.

Only Josh Cullen and Brady played a senior game prior to 2020 while Finn Azaz and Sammie Szmodics arrived over the last 12 months. Ebosele was another brought through by Kenny and, on this evidence of his pace and skill and composure to deliver the cross to the back post it will be Hallgrรญmsson who should benefit.

Hallgrรญmsson, of course, has already spoken about the need to โ€œstop the bleedingโ€ and it will be down to the men Kenny brought into the fold โ€“ some perhaps ahead of time โ€“ to do just that.

A new message is coming from the man in charge and different demands are now being placed on them too โ€“ a result like this backs up the positive talk and belief in what he can do.

Part of Irelandโ€™s game plan for this Nordic exploration, against a similarly beleaguered team lacking in confidence and that actually started the night bottom of Group 2, was to lure the home side out close to the defensive third and then win possession to counter in the areas left exposed by a pair of full backs who ventured forward.

Ebosele proved that point.

Itโ€™s the reason why Chiedozie Ogbene and Szmodics were chosen wide to make the most of their pace and willingness to be direct.

There was one Ireland fan in the front row of the away end with his right arm in a sling.

Eyes were drawn to him early on as he and a few of his friends among the 1,000 travelling fans to Helsinki belted out songs of support with the players warming up in front of them in the corner where Pohjanpalo would later run to celebrate Finlandโ€™s opener in the 17th minute.

There was a brutal kind of symbolism to that moment, as well as witnessing that stricken man in the slingโ€™s descent from optimism to annoyance and then a sense of renewed hope Liam Scales delicately headed home a header into that same corner of the same goal from Bradyโ€™s fizzed in swinging free kick on the right 12 minutes into the second half.

That equaliser came at a time when Ireland were on top, starting the second half with confidence and belief that was epitomised by Chiedozie Ogbeneโ€™s adventurous run that drew a foul from Leo Walta.

There was a time, and it does feel long ago now, when drawing games 1-1 was almost like an in-joke that only Ireland were in on.

But whatโ€™s been happening since is no laughing matter and this win, that keeps Ireland off the bottom of Group 2 in League was as precious as it was deserved.

When Brady rifled home high into the net he ran directly to that corner and the man in the sling moved just as quickly down the steps to celebrate wildly, both arms going absolutely 90.

Ireland equally went the distance here, and that will feel so sweet given this is a team that has felt like a man in a sling for some time, like it is more than just a little bit broken, maybe even feeble and most definitely vulnerable.

The manner of that opening goal summed it up. Just 25 seconds after Ireland won a throw on the halfway line Finland scored when four passes around the back ended with a fifth being under it and then punished.

But it wasnโ€™t fatal and now Ireland have signs of life, even getting over Evan Fergusonโ€™s disallowed goal when a free kick from Brady went out of play and couldnโ€™t be kept in by Collins.

If the first timeโ€™s a charm, then hopefully itโ€™s an offensive that can be sustained as they take this new momentum into another away clash in Greece โ€“ who beat England at Wembley โ€“ on Sunday night.

Next stop: Athens.

Finland: Lukas Hradecky; Adam Stahl, Arttu Hoskonen, Robert Ivanov, Tomas Galvez; Glen Kamara, Rasmus Schuller, Leo Walta; Robin Lod, Joel Pohjanpalo, Topi Keskinen.

Republic of Ireland: Caoimhรญn Kelleher; Dara Oโ€™Shea, Nathan Collins (captain), Liam Scales, Robbie Brady; Chiedozie Ogbene (Festy Ebosele 80), Josh Cullen, Jason Knight, Sammie Szmodics (Adam Idah 80); Finn Azaz (Jamie McGrath); Evan Ferguson (Troy Parrott 71).

Attendance: 16,105

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    Mute Louis Jacob
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    Oct 10th 2024, 10:11 PM

    Have to say, I was cursing when I saw Brady in starting 11. Great to be wrong. Sweet night for him.

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    Mute Shawn
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    Oct 10th 2024, 10:24 PM

    @Louis Jacob: 100 percent the same

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    Mute Ultรกn Corcoran
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    Oct 10th 2024, 10:16 PM

    Fearing the worst early on but the team showed great determination to complete the comeback and win it. Glad to see Brady get his flowers too. He may be a right age now but heโ€™s technically superb and always has that deadly set-piece delivery on him. Iโ€™ve been crying out for Ebosele to get a start over Doherty for years and albeit just a cameo, it feels great to see a hungry, athletic player on that right. Sure its just Finland, the real test will come on Sunday, but between the singing fans in Helsinki and a gutsy performance you feel thereโ€™s that little bit of spark back in the side.

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    Mute Darren
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    Oct 10th 2024, 10:14 PM

    Watched it in Kos with the England game on another screenโ€ฆ double delight

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    Mute Gary O Sullivan
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    Oct 10th 2024, 10:26 PM

    Ireland can thank Scales for keeping that central defence together. Collins and O Shea well below standard required.

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    Mute Conor Morris
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    Oct 10th 2024, 10:38 PM

    @Gary O Sullivan: O Shea defended excellently when they had clearly targeted him, what are you on about? Collins has that mistake in him, but he offers a lot too so I dont understand the derision these Irish players always get. Theyre not Maldini, but theyre far from brutal. They always turn up, always give the effort and they are the best we have. Support them

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    Mute Den
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    Oct 10th 2024, 10:39 PM

    @Gary O Sullivan: Oโ€™Shea always caught for
    pace. Collins had a nightmare I feel the Captains arm band is too heavy for him. Ferguson not any where near match sharpness needs more clock time.Otherwise a bit more bite and urgency in the team in general. Delighted Smallbone was not on the Pitch for me he brings nothing to the game. A positive outcome overall. A win is a win.

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    Mute Gary McGrath
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    Oct 10th 2024, 10:59 PM

    @Den: Oโ€™Shea literally had one of the top five fastest sprint times of any Premier league player last seasonโ€ฆ..

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    Mute aidan prior
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    Oct 10th 2024, 11:06 PM

    @Gary McGrath: clueless comment alright about his pace. He was poor in the first half

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    Mute John Pembroke
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    Oct 10th 2024, 10:36 PM

    Brady and Scales stood up tonight. But Festy stole the show and changed the game

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    Mute Anthony Curran
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    Oct 10th 2024, 10:06 PM

    Mortimer?! WEโ€™RE BACK!!!

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    Mute Owen Collum
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    Oct 10th 2024, 10:15 PM

    Well holy God we won one

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    Mute JJB
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    Oct 10th 2024, 11:05 PM

    Every journey starts with a first step. I like this new manager. I think there is something to him. We will never be world beaters but might get more competitive under his stewardship. A green shoot for now which I will gladly take.

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    Mute Ulick
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    Oct 10th 2024, 11:46 PM

    Well done Festy ..Up Wexford.

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    Mute Dan The Man
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    Oct 10th 2024, 10:15 PM

    We were only pretending to be shyyte ladsโ€ฆKaiser Souzai job!

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    Mute Niall English
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    Oct 10th 2024, 10:43 PM

    a night to cherish? bit OTT. for one it is only Finland.

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    Mute Shawn
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    Oct 10th 2024, 10:48 PM

    @Niall English: First win since 2013 from being one goal behind let us enjoy are wee win

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    Mute Tony Metcalfe
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    Oct 10th 2024, 11:08 PM

    Kenny brought Ebosele through?? He might have given him his debut but he underutilized him massively

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    Mute Leighton Cullen
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    Oct 11th 2024, 12:01 AM

    Festy was very positive and created chances. Hopefully starts in Greece good win after a dreadful pass back by Collins we had so many players with loose passes so much more to work on. A good win hopefully we can back it up in Greece.

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    Mute Owen ODonoghue
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    Oct 10th 2024, 10:58 PM

    Hope this is a big catalyst for the team to believe in themselves more . We shouldnโ€™t be going to Greece to try and scrape a draw now , we have better players than these guys and can beat them

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    Mute Alan Moloney
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    Oct 10th 2024, 10:49 PM

    Injoy it because it wonโ€™t last two long

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    Mute Shawn
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    Oct 10th 2024, 10:58 PM

    @Alan Moloney: We will galway

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    Mute JJB
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    Oct 10th 2024, 11:07 PM

    @Alan Moloney: gobsh&te

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    Mute James O'Brien
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    Oct 11th 2024, 8:11 AM

    Why, as a nation, are we so determined to disparage our own?
    Like it or not, Stephen Kenny started this evolution โ€“ stop knocking him!
    A similar thing happened with Chris Hughton at Brighton. He dragged that squad into a useful outfit before he was discarded โ€“ then his successor got all the kudos!
    As long as we tell everybody weโ€™re not good enough, thatโ€™s how weโ€™ll be treated

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    Mute Gerard Lynch
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    Oct 11th 2024, 8:06 AM

    A very good and much needed win. If we can dig out a performance in Greece this Icelandic fella might be worth sticking with. Very poor first half , no shape to the team . Much better after break . Halgrรญmsson needs to figure out his best 11 though . Brady played well second half but he s not the future but credit where itโ€™s due. Now where s my inflatable hammer .

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    Mute Edward McArdle
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    Oct 11th 2024, 8:44 AM

    Stephen Kenny tried to build an Irish team but quality players are not there.Fans and TV pundits hounded Stephen out the door.You cannot buy players at international level like the English clubs.Ireland simple donโ€™t have the players with flair of your Spains France Italy etc etc etc.

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    Mute James O'Brien
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    Oct 11th 2024, 11:38 AM

    @Edward McArdle: 100%, Edward. The blame for that lies squarely with the FAI.
    Years of failure to establish a coaching strategy for the grassroots means simply that top-level Scouts donโ€™t see any players remotely close to being the polished (or easily polished) article, and so the necessary grooming is never applied

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