Kenny says ‘eager’ Irish players went off-message

BLUSTER: Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny during the game against Armenia. Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy

As Stephen Kenny desperately clings onto the conviction that the Irish public are listening to his scriptures, the evidence of his players doing likewise is fading.

That’s not a conspiracy theory, for the inquisition drilling into the backdrop to their capitulation against Armenia on Tuesday only succeeded in discerning a chasm between the bench and pitch.