Baku boost stalls Stephen Kenny's critics but November decision looms

Three of the 12 FAI board members who will decide Kenny’s future, along with chief executive Jonathan Hill, were present in the Caucuses to witness the win

Chiedozie Ogbene heads Ireland’s third goal during the World Cup Group A qualifier against Azerbaijan at the Olympic Stadium in Baku on Saturday. Picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

It wasn’t the prettiest, but the details of a thumping competitive win on a stadium scoreboard in Baku had to be savoured all the same. What’s rare is wonderful and all that.

The result in Azerbaijan is too little, too late to matter in the context of World Cup qualification, but it suggested the team under Stephen Kenny has the wherewithal to put to the sword inferior opposition while mixing it up in style.