Cavani feels pain as Long puts down marker

Home debutant Kevin Long admitted he was eager to lay down a marker in his first duel with Edison Cavani as Uruguay were swept aside with ease last night.

Ireland’s 3-1 victory generates a nice tone for the days leading up to Sunday’s World Cup qualifier against Austria and Long was one amongst the plethora of contenders in the starting line-up aiming to shine.

He took that opportunity with aplomb, getting to grips early on with Uruguay’s lone frontman Cavani, who completed his club season in France for Paris Saint-Germain with a haul of 49 goals in 50 games.