A FRIENDLY THAT many will forget as soon as the summer is over will still retain a place in the history books for the Republic of Ireland.
Jack Moylan will certainly treasure his jaunt to Murcia in Spain as part of Heimir Hallgrímsson’s experimental squad.
The Dubliner became the first Ireland international since David Kelly 39 years ago to score a hat-trick on his debut as the Boys in Green cruised to a 5-0 win over Grenada.
And perhaps it was fitting that Moylan’s magic came somewhere out of sight and out of mind for so many, although not the 862 Ireland fans who made the trip to Spain.
If you were watching on RTÉ Player and had to contend with the shadow on the screen or issues with buffering, just know that Moylan’s connections for all three goals were pitch perfect.
His career to this point has been on the fringes of mainstream interest but, should his ascent continue, that will change. The English Championship beckons next season after he was a talismanic figure in one of the unlikeliest promotion pushes in recent times for Lincoln City.
A new contract was earned on the back of his performances and his year has just become even more memorable.
Grenada, ranked 163rd in the world by Fifa, put up stubborn resistance in the first half before Ireland’s quality told.
Moylan was central to that and his prominence is likely to have a trickle-down effect for years to come. He is the latest, and by no means last, League of Ireland graduate to make his mark on the international team.
Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrímsson poses with fans after the game. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
He turns 25 in September and the hope will be he can continue to bloom in England’s second tier. That is what will be required for him to become a regular international.
From being released by Bohemians to rebuilding his confidence in the First Division with Wexford, Moylan’s career was the revitalised through his own graft allied with the stewardship of Damien Duff at Shelbourne.
Duff tells the story of ringing Moylan drunk from a bar in America to start the conversation about moving to Tolka Park. He quickly became the talk of Drumcondra and exploits like this will only make the noise become louder.
All three goals came in the second half when it looked as though substitute Tom Cannon would be the one to net a quick-fire treble after pouncing in the 47th and 56th minute.
But this was an evening when Moylan made his mark.
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The Dubliner is also just the third man to achieve the hat-trick milestone on his debut after Paddy Moore struck four times in 1934.
The significance of this moment for Moylan might just be felt in what comes next. He has undoubtedly played himself into contention for the friendlies with Qatar in Dublin at the end of this month before a trip to Montreal to face Canada in early June.
Had Ireland qualified for the World Cup, of course, then this would not be a time for experimentation or dipping the toes in untested waters.
This wasn’t quite the deep end against Grenada, but it’s by no means a shallow feat.
Tom Cannon (right) is congratulated by Chiedozie Ogbene. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
Moylan had been sharp from the outset, linking well with Adam Idah but unable to find the target. The latter missed the best chance of the first 45 minutes when a sloppy finish trickled wide after decent build-up.
Idah, though, was a decent focal point and also played a delightful role in Cannon’s second goal with a deft flick to create space. The Sheffield United striker had already swivelled and shot sharply two minutes after the restart to put any nerves at ease.
Such was Ireland’s dominance, Jason Knight played the second half as one of three centre halves and the introduction of Newcastle United midfielder Tom Finneran may also be recalled as a significant moment if the 18-year-old goes on to have the kind of career many in the game believe he is capable of.
Another half-time substitute, Andrew Moran, was at the heart of Ireland’s delightful second goal with a piercing through ball which Idah then put on a plate for Cannon with a clever flick.
Ireland’s third on 62 minutes was far more straightforward.
Jack Moylan scores his second goal.
Captain Dara O’Shea won a powerful header in his own half and the ball caught the Grenada defence out over the top.
Moylan was alert to the opportunity and was onto it like a light, he took one touch to control the ball and with his second he fired his shot low into the net.
He completed his hat-trick with a header on 80 minutes after more good work from another substitute, Millenic Alli, to hang a cross to the back post. Moylan was waiting for an easy goal, but this was an evening when he didn’t hang around in grabbing his opportunity to impress.
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Jack Moylan becomes first Ireland player in 39 years to score debut hat-trick in 5-0 win
Republic of Ireland 5
Grenada 0
A FRIENDLY THAT many will forget as soon as the summer is over will still retain a place in the history books for the Republic of Ireland.
Jack Moylan will certainly treasure his jaunt to Murcia in Spain as part of Heimir Hallgrímsson’s experimental squad.
The Dubliner became the first Ireland international since David Kelly 39 years ago to score a hat-trick on his debut as the Boys in Green cruised to a 5-0 win over Grenada.
And perhaps it was fitting that Moylan’s magic came somewhere out of sight and out of mind for so many, although not the 862 Ireland fans who made the trip to Spain.
If you were watching on RTÉ Player and had to contend with the shadow on the screen or issues with buffering, just know that Moylan’s connections for all three goals were pitch perfect.
His career to this point has been on the fringes of mainstream interest but, should his ascent continue, that will change. The English Championship beckons next season after he was a talismanic figure in one of the unlikeliest promotion pushes in recent times for Lincoln City.
A new contract was earned on the back of his performances and his year has just become even more memorable.
Grenada, ranked 163rd in the world by Fifa, put up stubborn resistance in the first half before Ireland’s quality told.
Moylan was central to that and his prominence is likely to have a trickle-down effect for years to come. He is the latest, and by no means last, League of Ireland graduate to make his mark on the international team.
He turns 25 in September and the hope will be he can continue to bloom in England’s second tier. That is what will be required for him to become a regular international.
From being released by Bohemians to rebuilding his confidence in the First Division with Wexford, Moylan’s career was the revitalised through his own graft allied with the stewardship of Damien Duff at Shelbourne.
Duff tells the story of ringing Moylan drunk from a bar in America to start the conversation about moving to Tolka Park. He quickly became the talk of Drumcondra and exploits like this will only make the noise become louder.
All three goals came in the second half when it looked as though substitute Tom Cannon would be the one to net a quick-fire treble after pouncing in the 47th and 56th minute.
But this was an evening when Moylan made his mark.
The Dubliner is also just the third man to achieve the hat-trick milestone on his debut after Paddy Moore struck four times in 1934.
The significance of this moment for Moylan might just be felt in what comes next. He has undoubtedly played himself into contention for the friendlies with Qatar in Dublin at the end of this month before a trip to Montreal to face Canada in early June.
Had Ireland qualified for the World Cup, of course, then this would not be a time for experimentation or dipping the toes in untested waters.
This wasn’t quite the deep end against Grenada, but it’s by no means a shallow feat.
Moylan had been sharp from the outset, linking well with Adam Idah but unable to find the target. The latter missed the best chance of the first 45 minutes when a sloppy finish trickled wide after decent build-up.
Idah, though, was a decent focal point and also played a delightful role in Cannon’s second goal with a deft flick to create space. The Sheffield United striker had already swivelled and shot sharply two minutes after the restart to put any nerves at ease.
Such was Ireland’s dominance, Jason Knight played the second half as one of three centre halves and the introduction of Newcastle United midfielder Tom Finneran may also be recalled as a significant moment if the 18-year-old goes on to have the kind of career many in the game believe he is capable of.
Another half-time substitute, Andrew Moran, was at the heart of Ireland’s delightful second goal with a piercing through ball which Idah then put on a plate for Cannon with a clever flick.
Ireland’s third on 62 minutes was far more straightforward.
Captain Dara O’Shea won a powerful header in his own half and the ball caught the Grenada defence out over the top.
Moylan was alert to the opportunity and was onto it like a light, he took one touch to control the ball and with his second he fired his shot low into the net.
He completed his hat-trick with a header on 80 minutes after more good work from another substitute, Millenic Alli, to hang a cross to the back post. Moylan was waiting for an easy goal, but this was an evening when he didn’t hang around in grabbing his opportunity to impress.
Republic of Ireland: O’Leary (Keeley 74); Knight, Abankwah, O’Shea (captain), McGuinness (Cannon HT); Adaramola (Ferry HT); Coventry (Moran HT), Molumby (Finneran 74); Ogbene (Emakhu 63), Idah (Alli 63), Moylan.
Grenada: Thomas; Vincent-Young, Francis, Harrack, Sandiford; John-Brown, Muirhead; Gabriel, Charles, Hippolyte; Akins.
Referee: Seth Galia (GIB)
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