Chances running out for Long?

Martin O’Neill and his men had long since dispersed from the Aviva Stadium on Sunday evening by the time Robbie Keane began his day’s work with LA Galaxy, who were hosting Philadelphia Union at the StubHub Center.

By the time the evening was over, the Ireland captain had claimed Galaxy’s last goal in a 4-1 rout. It may have been the MLS, it may have been a tap-in against a side losing its fifth of six matches, but it showed again how important Keane remains to his country.

Earlier, O’Neill had voiced his incredulity at how Ireland had conspired to lose their latest friendly, against Turkey, despite creating a volume of chances rarely realised at the normally constrained tier that is international football.