Ireland’s defence shows the way forward

Republic of Ireland 1 Switzerland 0: Amidst the official Good Friday drought, the Aviva Stadium might have seemed an inviting watering hole for some in the attendance of 35,450 but, if not exactly intoxicating, the friendly fare on the pitch certainly provided a lively enough distraction and even some all too feisty exchanges as Ireland edged past Switzerland thanks to a Ciaran Clark goal after just two minutes of the game.

It was also a good night for Clark’s defensive partner Shane Duffy, gaining his first cap since the close-season tour of America in 2014, who combined a decisive display at the back with an assist for Ireland’s opening goal.

But it was not a game in which, for different reasons, the veteran Aiden McGeady and the debutant Alan Judge will have made the impression they hoped for as the European Championship finals loom ever closer.