The perfect start for Stan

NEW manager, new team, new era - old Duff. Well, not so old actually.

The Duffer turns 27 today but last night at Lansdowne Road he showed the way to all the neophytes, crowning his most exciting performance in a green shirt for a long time with the goal that set Steve Staunton’s team up for a hugely encouraging victory on the manager’s first night in charge.

Only Sweden’s Alexander Ostland would have been disinclined to join in the eve of birthday celebrations. Duff baffled and bewildered the fullback to such an extent the latter got a card to match his shirt for tripping the Ballyboden winger and, much to the glee of the Lansdowne faithful, was later reduced to diving theatrically over the end line just because of the mere presence of the number 11 at his back.