The one that got away

IN the immediate and deeply gloomy aftermath of the crushing setback of Friday’s loss to Russia, Ireland would happily have settled for a point in this one.

But it’s a measure of the improvement in their overall performance in Zilina last night that, by the end of this game, a draw probably felt more like a defeat for an Irish team which had not only cheaply surrendered a lead but then saw Robbie Keane both fluff a penalty and miss another great chance late on to convert a solid and admirable point on the road into the three which would have fully redeemed the points lost at home to the Russians.

With Dick Advocaat’s side having opened up a two-point lead following their win in Macedonia, the value of this Irish away point will not be fully known until much later in the campaign. But, for now, it was enough to restore battered pride and steady the ship before the friendly against Norway next month gives Giovanni Trapattoni a chance to reflect, renew and assess all his options.

Ireland’s injury list continued to mount on the day of the game –and it would be even longer by the end of a bruising encounter with a physical Slovak side – with Liam Lawrence’s failure to pass a late fitness test meaning a first competitive start for Keith Fahey, who had come on as a substitute to earn Ireland their 1-0 victory away to Armenia. But Slovakia had their injury woes too, Miroslav Stoch’s restriction to the bench until the 70th minute apparent confirmation that the right-sided midfielder had not lived up to manager Vladimir Weiss’ hopes for a quick recovery after he was stretchered off in Yerevan last Friday.

Filled close to its 11,000 capacity, the renovated Pod Dubnom – also known as the Stadion MSK Zilina after the team which calls it home – provided a warm to fiery welcome on a chilly night, its compact dimensions making it feel a bit like an updated version of Craven Cottage.

The word is that the Slovakian players like to play here, the concentrated passion of the provincial crowd regarded as a source of inspiration rather than a burden, so you felt it was vital that Ireland puncture the mood. And they did just that, after 15 minutes of containing Slovakia’s 4-4-4-1 formation so effectively that the home side, for all their energetic pressing, had been restricted entirely to ambitious and not especially well-directed strikes from distance.

The moment which silenced the home support came from a set-piece, Keith Fahey’s superb delivery causing panic stations in the Slovak defence, and when the ball was offered on a plate to Sean St Ledger he didn’t need a second invitation to find the back of the net.

Fahey’s confidence was rising with every minute, exemplified by an acrobatic snapshot and, a goal to the good on foreign soil, the Irish team as a whole appeared in the ascendancy, home frustration visible in a handful of reckless challenges and audible in the boos of the crowd when the Slovaks were forced backwards.

But, though the bigger picture was looking rosier, not the first time Ireland were undone by the little detail, failure to properly defend a corner kick allowing Jan Durica to head home Juraj Kucka’s near-post flick on.

Admirably, Ireland responded with gusto, Keane close to converting Shane Long’s driven ball across the face of goal before an injury to Paul Green obliged Trapattoni to make a choice he has always been hesitant to make in advance, and slot Darron Gibson into midfield alongside Glenn Whelan.

But when a killer Irish pass did arrive it was delivered not by the Manchester United man but, almost on the stroke of half-time, by Richard Dunne, the defender calmly putting his foot on the ball before booming a pass right into the path of Aiden McGeady who, as he slipped in behind the full back, was brought tumbling down by keeper Jan Mucha. Spanish referee Alberto Undiano Malenco pointed to the spot and, after a prolonged delay, prompted by Slovak protests, Robbie Keane stepped up to do the needful – only for his intentions to be read by the keeper who parried his tamely struck effort in what turned out to be the last action of the first-half.

Shell-shocked, the Irish left the pitch looking as downcast as if they’d conceded a goal. Having played well and recovered from the blow of losing their lead they would now have to overcome the psychological setback of failing to restore their advantage.

That they held out for a point, despite some sustained Slovakian pressure, was to their credit. And also thanks to a full-length save from Shay Given who turned away a Tomas Hubocan shot from distance which was probably Slovakia’s only direct effort on goal in the second half.

That Ireland didn’t do even better was down to another failure on the part of Robbie Keane to convert a great chance. And this time it was a chance of his own making, as he expertly made a yard of space in the box from Kevin Kilbane’s low cross only to then shoot over the angle of crossbar and post with the goal beckoning.

In a bruising finish, Aiden McGeady limped to the line but, with their travelling fans singing loudest into the freezing night air, Ireland had lived to fight another day.

SLOVAKIA: Mucha, Zabavnik, Salata, Durica, Hubocan; Karhan; Kucka, Sestak (Holosko 69), Hamsik, Weiss (Stoch 69), Jendrisek (Oravec 83)