Debut worth the wait as Harry Arter happy with Aviva outing

After the lunchtime lethargy at the Aviva Stadium, the man to emerge from the Irish dressing-room with the broadest smile was debutant Harry Arter.

The midfielder, at 25, had waited a long time for his international debut and to do so against the country of his birth made it all the more special despite the end-of-season friendly offering little to entertain 43,486 punters.

Arter’s last experience in an Irish jersey came all of seven years ago at U19 level.