Further misery for Ireland as Maloney shows goal touch

CELTIC star Shaun Maloney and Simon Lynch piled the agony on the Republic of Ireland at Rugby Park last night – just hours after the news of Roy Keane’s international retirement.

Maloney enhanced his growing reputation as a free-kick specialist with a sublime effort to give Scotland the half-time lead and substitute Lynch doubled Scotland’s lead in the 67th after his first shot was saved by keeper Graham Stack.

The visitors were first to cause any real problems as Arsenal’s on-loan striker Graham Barrett got away from Celtic defender John Kennedy, but he was just unable to pick out Thomas Butler in the centre with Chris Doig making the telling block.