Kerr has reason to be cheerful

AS Aston Villa manager — before he became a villain — Ron Atkinson once said the best thing about international friendlies was the final whistle.

Brian Kerr may disagree but at several stages of last night's Irish victory over Portugal at Lansdowne Road, his thoughts must have roamed to a Tel Aviv Saturday in March.

As football husbandry goes, Kerr could have patrolled the sideline in an apron last night. The Republic could hardly go into their crucial Group 4 qualifier with Israel in finer fettle.