IRELAND WILL LEAVE New York – and the season — with lots of positives from their end-of-year friendly with world and European champions Spain . but who can reflect on an underpar day at the office tonight at Yankee Stadium?
Conor Sammon
Hard to fault the former UCD striker’s efforts in helping out his defence, producing a couple of telling flicks and putting himself about in the Spanish half of the field when not in possession for much of last night’s one-sided encounter. Yet when Conor Sammon’s hard work was rewarded with an opening after 26 minutes the Irish striker lacked the requisite composure to score from close range with only Valdes to beat having bravely robbed Pique of possession.
Failure to take such gilt-edged chances against quality opposition underlines Sammon’s inability to make a difference at the highest level.
Darren O’Dea
The Irish central defender earns his corn in Major League Soccer with Toronto FC so should have been well accustomed to his surroundings yet failed to make any impression on the game. Unlike his defensive partner, Sean St Ledger, O’Dea looked unsure and completely off the pace for much of the encounter culminating in a mistake which presented Roberto Soldado with the opportunity to fire Spain ahead after 69 minutes.
His commitment to Trapattoni and the Irish squad in making long distance flights to and from Toronto is commendable but O’Dea’s poor showing against Spain underlines why John O’Shea, Ciarán Clarke and a fully-fit Richard Dunne remain ahead in the pecking order of first choice Irish central defenders.
Robbie Keane
LA Galaxy’s star striker failed to reproduce the form that reaped five goals in his previous two internationals although in truth, Keane was starved of possession for much of the 56 minutes he was out on the pitch.
The former Tottenham Hotspur striker delivered the goods when it mattered for Trapattoni against both Georgia and the Faroe Islands over the past fortnight but looked jaded before the friendly kicked off in New York last night. Keane’s assertion that he can continue to perform at the highest level for his country at the tender age of 33 looks doubtful and especially when the (relatively) younger legs of Shane Long, Simon Cox, Jonathan Walters, Conor Sammon and the forgotten Kevin Doyle are so desperate to stake a claim for a first team place.
Jeff Hendrick
The Derby County player was making his first international start under Trapattoni but struggled to make any sort of impact in the face of Spain’s mesmerising one-touch passing. Stationed on the edge of his own penalty box for much of the opening half Hendrick didn’t have the confidence or ability to make his mark on proceedings unlike his midfield partner James McCarthy who at least prompted a couple of counter-attacks with some intelligent use of the ball.
It came as little surprise to see Hendrick replaced by Stephen Quinn during the half time break.
Ger McCarthy is an Irish-based freelance sports journalist and published author. A regular contributor to Irish daily national the Irish Examiner, he also pens weekly columns for both the Evening Echo & Southern Star newspapers. Has written extensively for the Setanta Sports, NewsTalk, and Shoot! Football magazine web sites and is a regular member of Back Page Football’s Hold The Back Page football podcast.
