Keane shows new boys how

THERE were new faces aplenty in the Irish side which shared the honours with Nigeria on the banks of the Thames last night but it was the old boys who shone the brightest, Robbie Keane scoring again for his country, Richard Dunne dominating at the back and Liam Miller having a fine game in the centre of the park.

Most impressive of the rookies was Coventry striker Leon Best who, though he may lack a bit of subtlety, gave a good account of himself on his senior debut.

London’s gorgeous summer sunshine put the warm in warm-up but, given the experimental nature of the Irish line-up — three of the back four were making their senior debuts — this was less a dress rehearsal for Bulgaria and more in the way of a casting call for future productions.