Trapattoni talks up merits of ‘a very important game’

THERE might have been a circumstance where B internationals didn’t mean an awful lot in the overall scheme of things — they still mightn’t perhaps, one could argue — but there was a sense of purpose about the Irish squad last night.

Call it the Glenn Whelan effect, call it Giovanni Trapattoni putting more store in seeing players up close than reports of club form, but one or two fringe players impressed as they went about their business to put themselves into the frame.

And judging from the Irish manager post-match, they’ve succeeded. A worthwhile exercise then?