Winged wonders reach for the stars

A ppropriately enough fora game which took place onthe eve of the flight to Italy and onwards via Hungary to the Euros, this farewell friendly was all about Ireland’s winged wonders, as James McClean in the first half and Aiden McGeady in the second, reached for the sky.

On his competitive debut, the Sunderland sensation was the star of the first 45, running at and by opponents, whipping in crosses, winning his fair share of ball in the air and, as is mandatory for a Giovanni Trapattoni wide-man, dutifully tracking back and getting his tackles in too.

Indeed, the Derry man seemed set fair for the man of the match award until Aiden McGeady appeared at the start of the second half and, by way of an immediate statement of intent, saw a volley come back off the post with what was his very first touch of the ball. A constant threat with his pace and tricks, McGeady almost fashioned the breakthrough in the 73rd minute when his cross found Jon Walters who should have done better than heading against the crossbar. But the Spartak Moscow man was not to be denied and, just four minutes later, another pinpoint cross from the right was headed home by Shane Long, to give Ireland a deserved and morale-boosting win on the eve of departure.