Ireland Player Ratings: Kelleher performance overshadowed by late goal concession

Robbie Brady continued his good form from Helsinki.

PLAYER RATINGS: Ireland’s Jack Taylor and Jayson Molumby dejected after they conceded their second goal. Picture: ©INPHO/Nikola Krstic

Caoimhin Kelleher: Corkman made three really good saves in the first half but there was nothing he could do about the deflected opening goal and he was too careless in giving away possession for the second - although the game was gone by that point. 7

Dara O'Shea: Went missing for a chance Dimitris Giannoulis could not finish around half an hour in but he was dependable aside from that and made some key interventions in his less favoured position. 6

Nathan Collins: Having absorbed fair criticism after Thursday night’s howler in Helsinki, this was much better from the captain - even if a lot of his defending was of the last-ditch variety. 6

Liam Scales: Did his best to block Tasos Bakasetas’s shot but ended up diverting it into his own net. Too often found lunging desperately in the way of Greek attempts. 6

Robbie Brady: On one of the rare opportunities Ireland’s midweek hero could get forward he produced an excellent pass to find Troy Parrott in the box. This was a difficult night defensively but he gave everything. 7

Josh Cullen: Daft moment on stroke of half-time where he ran sideways instead of hacking clear and was unable to dictate the tempo at all. The player who is meant to offer control, he instead gave away possession too easily on the rare occasions he had it - with one notable exception when crossing to Jack Taylor. 5

Jason Knight: Anonymous. Had only 11 touches in the first half and despite being a little more involved early in the second period, he left the game with 20 to play having only completed 18 passes. 5

Chiedozie Ogbene: Embarked on a vaguely threatening run down the right approaching the interval, winning a corner after getting the better of Dinos Mavropanos, but an otherwise tough outing was cut short before the hour mark. 5

Sam Szmodics: The Ipswich creator neither offered enough nor received sufficient service on the left wing. Perhaps he would have been more involved if used in a central role in front of Cullen and Knight. 5

Troy Parrott: Lively enough without producing a major impact in the final third. Decent hold up play, a handful of nice touches but only sight of goal was a glancing header that travelled harmlessly wide. 6

Evan Ferguson: Half-hearted penalty shout four minutes in was ignored after an off-balance shot sailed wide. It happened to be Ireland’s best chance before falling behind and he was hooked not long after conceding. 5

Substitutes 

Festy Ebosele (Ogbene 56): Offered drive and impetus down the right wing. Deserves to start one of the games in November. 6

Jack Taylor (Ferguson 56): Debutant registered first attempt on target with a header that was saved and also went close from a late corner. 6

Jayson Molumby (Knight 72): not on long enough to be rated.

Mikey Johnston (Szmodics 72): not on long enough to be rated.

Kasey McAteer (O’Shea 81): not on long enough to be rated.

Not used: Mark Travers, Max O’Leary, Finn Azaz, Adam Idah, Jamie McGrath, Andrew Omobamidele.