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