Little sparkle as Ireland's send-off falls flat in Cork

Republic of Ireland 1 Belarus 2: It might have been 2-1 to Belarus on the scoreboard at full time but, of course, the really big result of the night still hung in the balance after the final whistle had blown at Turner’s Cross, as the 11th hour approached and, with it, the revelation of the Irish squad which will represent the country at the European Championship finals in France.

But as warm-up acts go, this first appearance at the Cross for a senior Irish team since Jack Charlton’s men played a Munster selection at the same venue on the eve of Euro ’88, was not lacking in its own headline ingredients – though, unfortunately, not many were to be found in a distinctly underwhelming Irish performance until Martin O’Neill sent for some of his bigger guns late on in the game.

A full house of 7,200 at Turner’s Cross provided the crackling backdrop and, among the big attendance was that most high profile of League of Ireland fans, President Michael D.Higgins, taking his place in the stands alongside representatives from the Ireland’s Euros opponents Sweden and Belgium.