The miracle of Moscow

THEY already have some imposing statues in the capital of Russia but they may have to make way for one of a man from Tallaght after this minor miracle in Moscow.

Ireland had very little to offer but resistance last night but in the end it was enough to salvage the unlikely point which keeps their European Championship qualification hopes alive. And in the redoubtable performance of Richard Dunne, Ireland had the game’s dominant personality, his heroics extending all the way to shedding blood for the cause.

Russia will puzzle long and hard over how they didn’t win this Group B qualifier but even they might have to concede that King Richard didn’t deserve to be on the losing side.