‘Embarrassing’ but lessons will be learned: Kavanagh

HE may have been threatened at gunpoint in Portmarnock earlier this week but last night’s defeat to Holland at Lansdowne Road was arguably as scary an experience for Steve Staunton.

Few people carried unrealistic expectations with them to Ballsbridge last night with men like Robbie Keane, Damien Duff, Shay Given and Richard Dunne unavailable to the Irish manager but no-one expected such a harrowing night for the home team.

To be fair to the Irish players, none of them attempted to hide behind the fact that so many key personnel were off duty. Graham Kavanagh was more blunt than most when summing up the night’s fortunes.