Stephen Kenny vows to prove Ireland legend Paul McGrath wrong

Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny during his Republic of Ireland squad announcement at FAI Headquarters in Abbotstown, Dublin. Picture: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Few strikers in their prime succeeded in showing up Paul McGrath but Stephen Kenny has set himself a task of proving the Black Pearl wrong about his grim outlook for the Ireland manager.

McGrath initially called for Kenny’s head in March following the shock home defeat to Luxembourg and may well have been among the manager’s targets when he accused unnamed people of “coming out of the woodwork”.