Players get their lines right as match sticks to the script

FINALLY, Brian Kerr’s Phoney War is over. Two years after first taking over as Ireland’s manager, the Dubliner can at last look forward to his first full campaign at the helm of the senior Irish side.

How much use this was as preparation for the Cyprus game next month is a moot point. It’s hard enough to find an international friendly with some vim and vigour these days. Even harder when it takes place in early August with the English and Scottish seasons barely out of their nappies.

Last night, the scriptwriters didn’t deviate from the plot. Make sure the home side doesn’t lose, throw in the odd goal chance and top it all off with at least one memorable slice of pure brilliance - courtesy here of Bulgaria’s stunning equaliser after 70 minutes from Valeri Bozhinov. In fact, the only oddity on view in Lansdowne Road last night was the repeated sight of Roy Keane giving away possession.

The Manchester United skipper was even guilty of being caught in possession, not once, but twice.

No matter, Keane won’t be found wanting against the Cypriots next month, but what then were the positives to be taken from a game few players really cared for?

How about Andy Reid for a start, with a first ever international goal behind him and another Man-of-the-Match award for the mantelpiece?

The Nottingham Forest player is one of a clutch of players pushing strongly for inclusion in the starting eleven, and he claims the squad is more than ready after the extensive build-up of recent months.

“Yeah, we’re very ready for the qualifiers. We’ve played a lot of friendly games together for the last few months and we’ve got some really good results. I think we’ve lost only one in God-knows-how-many so we are ready.”

And what of the goal? “I was a bit surprised to see it going in,” Reid admitted. “Roy Keane just said to hit it towards the goal and you’ll never know. Luckily enough for me it went in. I was delighted.”

Shay Given was another to benefit after an eye infection curtailed his pre-season preparations this past month. He too is confident as the road to Germany approaches.

“It could have been better but Bulgaria aren’t a bad side, they have just come back from the European Championships. It was only the first or second game of the season for a lot of the lads so it’s good to get it under the belt,” Given said.

“A draw was probably a fair result. They had a few chances in the second half although we had our own as well. We didn’t need anybody getting injured out there and we managed to get through it okay that way.

“We’ll go back to our clubs now and concentrate on that until the Cyprus game comes around.

“There is a good balance of youth and experience in that team and we are looking forward to the campaign. We kept the ball well out there and there are a lot of talented players in that dressing room.

“We were disappointed to miss the European Championships but that’s all water under the bridge now.”

The one man who will certainly remember last night most is undoubtedly Jonathan Macken, who finally made his senior international debut - albeit a brief one of 17 minutes.

It’s probably safe to assume that when Macken was a small boy growing up he didn’t dream of making his debut in a run of the mill friendly in early August against Bulgaria. Judging by his brief performance with the England U-20’s some years back, he probably didn’t see himself playing against the team in white either. No matter, the moment was as sweet as he envisaged when it finally arrived.

“I’m over the moon to make my debut. The result wasn’t quite right, you would like to win, but Bulgaria were at the European Championships and they are still looking to improve as well. To make your debut in front of a home crowd like that was fantastic as well. It’s nice to finally get my international career up and running.”