Shane Long emerged from an X-rated encounter with Macedonia defender Boban Grncharov confident he is ready to make his mark on the international stage.

Skipper Robbie Keane has called for an overhaul of the disciplinary system which will deprive Republic of Ireland of key defender Richard Dunne for their trip to Macedonia in June.

FYR MACEDONIA defender Boban Grncharov has shrugged off Ireland’s attacking threat, claiming his team can deal with ‘aerial players’ and boasted that the current Macedonian team has never been better.