Drab draw brings an end to Kenny's reign. Time to move on
IRELAND…1 (Adam Idah 28 NEW ZEALAND…1 (Matt Garbett 59)
A typically flat end symbolised a similar summation to Stephen Kenny’s reign as Ireland were unable to see him off with a win.
Not that it means much at this stage of the long goodbye but it was the Kiwis who finished the stronger and looked likelier to bounce into the new year with a rare win.
Ireland have been in flatline mode since their Greek tragedy in June and there was little they conjured here to salvage anything from a dire year.
The flickers of joy that Adam Idah’s opener illuminated in October against the Netherlands were replicated in a lower setting but there was the identical pattern of it being replaced by deflation by the end.
Matt Garbett’s equaliser approaching the hour was the least the visitors deserved.
Kenny knew his time was up before this farewell and the reception by the few hundred fans at the end in the south stand demonstrated how badly his tenure has faded into oblivion.
Kenny has been susceptible to conspiracy theories in his time in charge and might have felt his employers were adding a sinister twist by recently launching a black jersey for what was certain to be his last game.
The end was nigh for the incumbent long before this fixture was arranged to plug the final gap in the calendar for broadcasting rights purposes, doubling up as a European opponent for the tourists.
They seldom get to play beyond the southern hemisphere but it doesn’t seem to make much difference to their form.
Friday’s 2-0 loss to Greece extended their run to a single victory in 12 games and their standing at 103 in the world shouldn’t have held much fear for Ireland.
But this was a game taking on a life of its own, or more to the point, a
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