'It's different on a game day' - How practice made perfect for Liam Scales to assist Ireland's opener against Portugal

PRACTICE MADE PERFECT: Ireland's Liam Scales and Dara O'Shea celebrate. Pic: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy.

The Republic of Ireland’s crucial opening goal against Portugal came from a move that was straight off the training ground.

Well, sort of.

“We gave a bit of stick to Scalesy yesterday because he kept shooting from that position, but it worked off today,” said Nathan Collins shortly after full-time.

It was only fair that Liam Scales would later have the right to reply and to his credit, he refused to deny the accusations.

“I know, I didn't get one back into the right area at all. It's different on a game day, you've less time to think and it paid off. It's a brilliant set piece so credit to the staff,” he smiled.

And that’s the most important thing. For all the failed attempts to head the ball back across the face of goal from the set-piece in training, the Wicklow native succeeded in doing so when it truly mattered, much to the delight of the main beneficiary Troy Parrott, his Ireland teammates and the supporters.

Parrott would, of course, go on to double his and Ireland’s tally just before the break to give the Boys in Green the platform they needed to secure a memorable victory that keeps their hopes of reaching the World Cup alive.

“For me personally, the best night I’ve had in an Ireland shirt,” continued the 27-year-old.

“You know the gameplan paid off, we wanted to be solid, we wanted to catch them on the counter attack, we wanted to be good at set-pieces, and that’s what won us the game.

“It’s a great feeling. We know we’re only halfway there and we’ve got to do the same on Sunday, but we'll enjoy that, it'll be a night that'll be remembered so it's amazing to be part of that.

“It's an amazing feeling. Starting a game for Ireland is the best, the highest it gets for me anyway.

“Being able to sing the national anthem on the pitch, I'm just glad I got to do that again. I'm happy with whatever role I have in the squad. It's all about us doing it together as a unit. If I can help in any way possible, I will.”

Scales was given the opportunity to start at left-wing back due to the suspension of Ryan Manning.

And while he hopes he has done enough to retain his place in the side of the crucial clash against Hungary in Budapest on Sunday, where a win would be enough to secure a playoff spot, the Celtic defender will respect whatever decision manager Heimir Hallgrímsson makes.

“It's not up to me. I'm just happy that I've done my job tonight and we'll see what happens on Sunday,” he added.

“Either way, I'm happy with whatever role I have on the team. Ryan's a brilliant player and he's a different player to me. It all comes down to what the manager thinks. That’s football, either way I won’t be disappointed.

“We just know if we win the game, we get a play-off. It's a massive thing to play for so that's all we need. It'd be great to have good travelling support there as well.

“They're always brilliant so that'll drive us on. We know what's at stake and that's enough.”