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.

“The fact my first senior game was against England was very pleasing,” said the Bournemouth playmaker following his 30-minute appearance as a substitute.

“After winning the Championship at club level, this was a nice way to finish the season. I didn’t really think too much of it, I just felt I’ve got to go into the game, try and get the fact it’s my debut out of my mind and treat it like any other game.

“I’m sure in weeks or months to come I’ll look back on it with a lot more pride.

“My family came over this morning, so they probably savoured it more than me at the time. They probably felt more pride than me at the time whereas I was just concentrating on doing well for the team. ”With 15 minutes left, Arter conjured a chance to crown his debut with the winner.

Breaking from deep after dispossessing Ross Barkley, he fizzed a shot wide of Joe Hart’s post – much to the disapproval of James McClean and Shane Long who were both lurking in the box.

He said: “I’ve not watched it back and it looked close when I shot but was probably miles away. It would have been fitting for me to score.

“I got stick off the other lads for a couple of minutes straight afterwards. But, in the dressing-room, they admitted they would have done the same thing so it was all a joke in the end.”

Of more seriousness in the context of Saturday’s Euro qualifier against Scotland was the stellar showing from Robbie Brady at left-back.

None of the shakiness which blighted his first-half display against Poland in March was evident as the Hull City man claimed the man-of-the-match award.

“I’d marked Raheem Sterling a couple of times this season and it was okay but you’ve got to be aware of him because he’s such a top player,” said Brady after helping nullify Liverpool’s €50m-rated attacker.

“He is capable of opening you up at any minute so I had to be switched on at all times.

“Being left-back for Ireland is a little bit different to the wing-back position I’ve been used to playing all season. But playing there has helped my defensive side so hopefully today is just another lesson in the left back role.

“The more you play the more familiar you get with the position so I’m looking forward to the qualifier against Scotland now and hopefully getting a start.” Seamus Coleman, for his part, insisted there were enough positives from yesterday’s run-out to suggest the win Ireland need in five days time is attainable.

“Scotland means more than maybe other international matches because it’s so important to the group and how we fare. We’re going out there to win,” he said.

“There had been a lot made of the England game in the run-up but there was no trouble and I thought we played well. It builds up the sharpness for the big one now.”