It’s a Given that he is the only certainty

ONLY Given to beat. Words Irish fans are getting used to by now. Words that cause perspiration and furrowed brows at the state of the Irish defence, but instead engender a certain type of confidence.

Let’s go back to the 19th minute of Saturday’s game. Samuel Eto’o had just left Gary Breen flailing in his slipstream, sprinting towards the Irish goal with only Given to beat. Those words again sprang to mind as the Lifford man burst from his goal-line decisively to deny Eto’o.