Dion Fanning: Evan Ferguson and the enemy of promise

One goal against Bulgaria won’t shape his career but it can be defined as good rather than bad. A game defined by the shot he took a few minutes beforehand might have allowed a different story to take shape.

KEY GOAL: Evan Ferguson scored for Ireland against Bulgaria to end his goal drought.

A second can shape a story. When Evan Ferguson shot early and from distance in the 55th minute on Sunday night, the Lansdowne Road crowd appeared to come to an immediate and collective understanding of his thinking. He lacked confidence in himself, we concluded, so he had shot speculatively to keep the defender — and the doubt which is even more persistent — at bay.

A few minutes later, Ferguson again moved towards goal, played a one-two with the outstanding Finn Azaz, and produced a finish that changed the direction of the story.