Brady pick of the bunch

Republic of Ireland 4 Oman 1

Manchester United’s Robbie Brady might have been the biggest winner of the night as Ireland recorded an unusually big win under Giovanni Trapattoni, but there were also significant contributions from Shane Long, James McCarthy, David Meyler and Seamus Coleman — and an almost-but-not-quite redemptive cameo from James McClean — as an experimental side brushed aside the feeble challenge of Oman and gave the manager at least some morsels of food for thought before attention turns to Germany next month.

Change was in the air in London yesterday, the blue skies and soaring temperatures of previous days suddenly giving way to scudding clouds and a chill breeze which had the vacant deck-chairs flapping around the Serpentine.

But if autumn was coming to England’s capital, at Craven Cottage last night the hope was that we might get to glimpse the green shoots of a new season for Irish football, with circumstances obliging Giovanni Trapattoni to field an unfamiliar looking line-up sprinkled with young guns.

But with all eyes on the likes of Brady, David Meyler, Seamus Coleman, Marc Wilson, Alex Pearce and even, in the context of that fresh-faced company, the comparatively experienced James McCarthy, there was still an unexpected reappearance just before kick-off of a more familiar and experienced face. And no, it wasn’t home boy Damien Duff.

Paul McShane, who was due to start at centre-half, had just taken part in the warm-up when he became ill and began vomiting. That meant a sudden emergency recall for Sean St Ledger who had previously been rated doubtful for the game.

In front of a small but noisy crowd at this famous old ground, the sense of something less than a grand occasion was heightened when, farcically, both sets of players were forced to wait in line for minutes on the pitch until the tapes of the national anthems could be located.

But with that false start out of the way, the Irish were quickly out of the blocks, almost immediately causing panic in the Omani defence as a near own goal was followed by Andy Keogh going close. After six minutes the Irish were in front, and Robbie Brady was the instigator, the winger lofting a high left-footed free from the right beyond the far post, where the unmarked Sean St Ledger was able to head back across goal for Shane Long to nod home his eighth goal for his country.

Not content with mere creation, Brady followed through with execution in the 23rd minute, meeting a dropping ball and hitting a fine right-footed volley from outside the box to give Wigan keeper Ali Al Habsi no chance in the Omani goal. And the Manchester United tyro was at it again in the 36th minute, his fantastic free-kick delivery – this time with his left foot from the left side – an irresistible invitation to skipper Kevin Doyle to use his head to good effect and get on the scoresheet.

In the first 10 minutes alone, Ireland probably passed the ball more than they had in the 90-plus in Kazakhstan. James McCarthy and David Meyler formed an old-fashioned style-and-steel partnership, the former a model of composure and the latter full-blooded in the tackle. And with Coleman not shy about getting forward, Robbie Brady a threat coming inside and Shane Long constantly causing problems, Ireland were by some distance the dominant force and good value for their three-goal lead at the break.

Sure, not all the flicks and tricks came off but, even allowing for the weakness of the opposition, it was still hugely refreshing to see an Irish team put such an onus on relentless attack.

The second period began with the Irish still on the front foot, only a fine fingertip save from Al Habsi denying Andy Keogh before, in what was effectively Oman’s first real effort on goal, Darron Randolph — on as a substitute for David Forde – did well to tip over a dipping long-ranger from Eid Al Farsi.

With changes coming think and fast for both sides, Oman got a goal back in the 72nd minute, as the Irish defence got pulled out of position and Al Farsi found the corner of the net.

But in the 85th minute, there was another debut goal for another debut boy, Alex Pearce heading in Aiden McGeady’s corner after Al Habsi had found a Meyler piledriver too hot to handle safely.

The game ended with Simon Cox having to be helped off after coming off worst in a heavy tackle, the only disappointment on an enjoyable night.

Substitutions: Republic of Ireland: D Randolph for Forde (45), A Pearce for Wilson (45), J McClean for Doyle (61), S Cox for McCarthy (65) A McGeady for Brady (70), J O’ Brien for Long (72)

Oman: H Al Hudhari for R Saleh (70) F Basheer for A Al Muqbali (72) A Al Jabri for A Al Muhaiyri (77) AAl Mukhaini for M Al Balushi (78)

Referee: Andre Marriner (England).