Farewell, Stephen: Hope now turns to the kids Kenny has introduced to the international stage

FAREWELL; Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny after the international friendly match between Republic of Ireland and New Zealand at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Farewell, then, Stephen Kenny. 

In these final three months of his three years in charge, the 52-year-old’s puzzled frown has appeared permanent and here, in a game with no real consequences, the hopes of at least signing off with a positive spin were extinguished by yet another long-range concession, the type of goal that Ireland have not been able to stop conceding.

That Kenny departed in front of such a sparse and subdued crowd was a measure of the apathy that has engulfed the team but at least it was more dignified than exiting to fury being spewed from the stands.

The final record reads 40 games, 11 wins, two failed qualification campaigns, Nations League relegation and more than two dozen debutants.

A review will now take place, much like it did with Vera Pauw in the summer, and the conclusion will be the same: no new contract. 

Few and far between are those who believe that Kenny should continue after overseeing Ireland’s worst qualification campaign since 1962. 

The results have been awful, the excuses and deflections increasingly grating.

And yet it is equally true that Kenny is leaving a positive legacy because he has given breaks to an entire squad for his replacement to nurture into a team that can win when it matters. 

His problem was getting a clear and consistent tune from them.

Of last night’s starting XI, eight were ushered in by Kenny and the exceptions - retiring James McClean, Shane Duffy and Matt Doherty - were all in defence. 

From the 24 given competitive debuts since the autumn of 2020 there have been three goalkeepers, six defenders, seven midfielders and eight forwards. 

Only three of those - Jack Byrne, CJ Hamilton and Will Keane - are not expected to make leaps in their individual development.

That Kenny’s steadfast belief in youth was at such odds with the conservatism of his predecessors is what made him so appealing in the first place. 

How many would have found a route so clear had a manager less trusting sat in the dugout? Evan Ferguson, Nathan Collins and Gavin Bazunu; beyond that it becomes less certain.

But there was always going to be a point where an ambition to alter the style would no longer be sufficient. And how much did the style really change? 

Ireland became used to having more possession than before but it regularly looked like passing for passing’s sake and performances too often lacked incision. So many goals continued to come from set pieces, which should not be sneered at but makes light of suggestions that the team was becoming an attacking force in open play.

Above all an inability to make adequate tweaks during games has led to Kenny’s downfall. September’s defeat at home to the Netherlands encapsulated his ineptitude when it came to reacting on the hoof. That match was decided by a failure to react to Ronald Koeman’s half-time reshuffle. Ireland were good in the opening period, totally outclassed against an ordinary team once they altered formation at the break.

From the 11 wins, five were in friendlies and only one came against teams of what historically are considered a similar level - the Nations League victory over Scotland in June 2022. Every meeting with one of the big nations ended in defeat, with the exceptions of home draws versus Portugal and Belgium, and that is before dragging up the early horrors of Luxembourg and Armenia.

Against New Zealand - and, yes, it would be foolish to read too much into these 90 minutes - there were early glimpses of what could have been, most notably from Mikey Johnston. Adam Idah’s well-taken goal was the product of proactive work from Mark Sykes, whose harrying forced Nando Pijnaker, of Sligo Rovers, into coughing up possession. 

But, as in so many other games, fluent play was fleeting and the promise was overwritten by yet another long-range concession, this time from Matthew Garbett. In that regard Ireland could not be faulted for their commitment to the brand.

The hope is that Kenny’s Kids will become men capable of reaching tournaments but for that to happen someone with far superior game management and an ability to provide some fire is required.