Seamus Coleman goal makes world of difference

The summer in France seemed a long way off at the Aviva last night and, for lengthy and depressing spells of this game, the prospect of a summer in Russia seemed even further.

But after an abject first half for Ireland, captain Seamus Coleman, on the occasion of his 40th cap, managed to come up with a solo goal which mixed wonder and blunder, to tilt the game decisively in the home side’s favour and, ultimately, add another three points to their Group D haul.

I think this is what they mean by ‘winning ugly’.

Martin O’Neill’s starting line-up saw James McCarthy make the cut despite his injury lay-off and veterans John O’Shea and Glenn Whelan consigned to the bench at kick-off – where, disappointingly for fans of the playmaker, they were joined by Wes Hoolahan - as the back from suspension Shane Duffy and, unexpectedly, Ciaran Clark, were chosen as the central defensive partnership. With Stephen Ward installed at full-back, the presence of both Robbie Brady and James McClean suggested the manager was aiming for the kind of high-tempo, attacking approach both home advantage and the nature of the opposition appeared to demand.

With Shane Long at the apex of the attack, it was ostensibly a 4-3-3 formation not lacking in pace but the absence of Hoolahan triggered merited concern – not just confined to Montrose – on the topical issue of Ireland’s recurring problems in retaining and developing possession.

Singularly failing to get on the front foot from word go, the first vague threat on the Georgian goal only came after 13 minutes when McClean’s header back across the six yard box, from a deep Seamus Coleman cross, had ‘keeper Giorgi Loria flapping before the ball was finally hoofed away.

But the Georgians, in their own first attack three minutes later, came much closer, as a swivel and turn inside the penalty area from Valerie Kazaushvili saw the ball fly just wide of a relieved-looking Darren Randolph’s post.

That was a warning shot for Ireland who, far from bringing intensity to the night, were neither bossing possession nor dominating the physical battles, as the Georgians, moving the ball with some fluency at times, visibly grew in confidence, And when an Irish corner ended up, in two laboured passes, back at the feet of Randolph, the crowd’s frustration was audible.

With Long struggling to make use of limited service and McClean well marshalled by the Georgian defence, Ireland were distinctly lacking in any kind of cutting edge, a situation not helped by some sloppy passing when they did venture into the final third.

By contrast, the Georgians did possess a cutting edge but, in one extraordinary passage of play in the 37th minute, saw it cruelly blunted by the Irish woodwork, the home defence at sixes and sevens and Randolph’s goal leading an utterly charmed life as, one after another, headers from Levan Mchedlidze and skipper Guram Kashia came back off the bar and post.

It all added up to a truly dismal first 45 for Ireland, their only consolation being that they could count themselves very lucky indeed not be behind going in at the break.

The home side badly needed an inspirational spark from somewhere and, in the 55th minute, the captain provided it, Seamus Coleman – who’d actually not been having the best of nights until then – embarking on an explosive run up the right flank and into the box, where after some almost comical ping-pong, he was able to conclude his marathon by practically running the ball over the goal-line. And, just two minutes later, with the Georgians rocked back on their heels, one might even have been two, as a now up for it Coleman crossed into the penalty area only for McClean’s diving header to be ruled out by an offside flag.

That Ireland could badly have done with that two-goal cushion became clear as the visitors regained their composure and with it, for another worrying spell, decent possession of the ball.

But, overall, the home side’s performance was a considerable improvement on that dreadful first half, the Irish playing and pressing with much more purpose until, at the end of another promising move, Robbie Brady and Soloman Kverkvelia suffered a nasty clash of heads which, amidst much concern for their welfare, led to a prolonged stoppage before the Dubliner had to be stretchered off, Glenn Whelan coming on in his place.

A yellow card for Jeff Hendrick, which rules him out of Sunday’s game in Moldova and the sight of Shane Long limping off, added further worries for Martin O’Neill after the distressing injury to Brady.

But with seven minutes of added time sanctioned by the French referee – in the course of which the home side finally a chance to feel hard done by when McClean’s header came back off the bar - the Ireland manager will mainly have felt a wave of relief, one shared around the stadium, when the final whistle signalled the end of a long, hard night at the office.

Ireland:

Randolph, Coleman, Clark, Duffy, Ward, McCarthy, Hendrick, Brady (Whelan 80), McClean, Walters, Long (O’Shea 95).

Georgia:

Loria, Kakabadze, Kverkvelia, Keshia, Navakovski (Kobakhidze 89), Deushvili Katcharava 93),Gvilia, Kazaishvili, Okriashvili, Anaanidze (Skhirtladze 73), Mchedidze Referee; Tony Chapron (France)

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