Ireland end losing run with comfortable victory against Gibraltar
EURO 2024 Group B qualifier
GIBRALTAR 0
IRELAND…4 (Evan Ferguson 8, Mikey Johnston 28, Matt Doherty 60, Callum Robinson 80)
No drama, as Gus Poyet cited last Friday, transferred to Ireland as they scored twice in each half to sink Gibraltar at the venue designed like a ship.
Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline belted out into the Faro night-sky at full-time but the line ‘good times never so good’ was sung more in name than intention by fans aware the extravaganza in Germany will take place next summer without them.
Evan Ferguson and Mikey Johnston, who both scored in the second-half blitz over the 198th ranked team in June, scored inside the opening half, added to by Matt Doherty’s header on the hour and another from substitute Callum Robinson’s with 10 minutes left.
Not even VAR checks on three of Ireland goals could prevent a rare stress-free evening for Stephen Kenny but this was an irrelevance in the context of his job security. Muted goals celebrations, on the pitch anyway, told the truth about the academic nature of Kenny’s sixth win in 28 competitive matches.
Wins elsewhere, for Netherlands in Ireland’s group, and Portugal and Slovakia in another, quash for once the remote chance of a backdoor route via the playoffs. Relying on Iceland to peak at the death by beating Slovakia and Portugal, plus overhaul their goal difference deficit, is the sole permutation left.
There was more to lose than gain from this mismatch but the opportunity of working towards the future, even for a new manager’s gaze, was snubbed.
A decade of Séamus Coleman and Doherty dominating the right-back berth is nearing completion and a worthy successor in Festy Ebosele has emerged. The displays in Serie A of the Udinese defender, who only
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