Perfect rehearsal for Israel

THESE Lansdowne Road mid-season friendlies have become so familiar that maybe the FAI should consider taking a patent out on them.

Against opponents of Portugal's calibre you can be guaranteed that Ireland won't be seeing as much of the ball as you would like and last night was no different at least in the first half.

Mattie Holland and Kevin Kilbane were more like spectators at times as Portugal wove their intricate patterns. That Ireland didn't suffer on the scoreboard was down to a lack of a killer instinct, which the visitors have previously shown to be something of an Achilles' heel.