Ireland top Euro Qualifying group but strikers struggle to find their shooting boots against minnows
A CHIP off the old defensive rock of Gibraltar and a late Robbie Brady header gave Ireland a win on a frustrating night at the Aviva Stadium.
Gibraltar veteran centre half Joseph Chipolina’s deflected own goal on 29 minutes and Brady’s injury time finish was enough for Ireland to take the points that stay on course for Euro 2020 qualification.
Ireland are now top of Group D at the half way stage with ten points from four games. But, that two of those wins were 1-0 victories over the minnows, means no one is sticking their chest out.
But thankfully, Joseph Chipolina did stick his out when he deflected David McGoldrick’s off-target shot beyond Kyle Goldwin.
Substitute Brady dived in to head home James McClean’s un-defendable cross from the left in injury-time to wrap up the points.
But in-between, it was a night that was neither easy or enjoyable.
The game was billed as a chance for Mick McCarthy’s strikers to boost their strike rate with starters David McGoldrick, Scott Hogan Callum Robinson as well as sub Sean Maguire yet to score in green.
All had chances, but the 90 minutes ended with the quartet still waiting to get off the mark even if McGoldrick came mighty close.
WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN
The goal itself came courtesy of two ricochets and a deflection, but the 29 minutes of torture beforehand meant that no one in Ireland was complaining as Gibraltar bemoaned their luck.
Callum Robinson started the move but his attempted through ball hit Louie Annesley before then cannoning off Alain Pons to Seamus Coleman.
The Ireland skipper would have been an offside position had the ball not come to him off a Gibraltar defender and he quickly cut the ball back towards the penalty spot.
David McGoldrick was racing onto it and cracked his shot off. But it was going wide until it hit Joseph Chipolina in the chest and deflected beyond the wrong-footed Kyle Goldwin.
The quality of the goal itself summed up a night.
Expecting Gibraltar to park the bus, Ireland had bus problems of their own when theirs broke down on the Navan Road. A replacement coach got them to the Aviva 15 minutes later than normal.
And Ireland were motoring about as well as that bus stuck near Ashtown early on.
IRISH FRUSTRATION
It was not that Ireland were not dominant – they had all the ball – but there was a real lack of urgency or penetration.
Centre halves Shane Duffy and Richard Keogh had most of the possession and Gibraltar only feared that pair when the ball was on their heads rather than at their feet.
Friday’s hero in Denmark Duffy summed it up three times in the first half, First he sliced a shot high and wide from 35 yards.
Later, his giant boot inadvertently got in the way of a Conor Hourihane free kick while he played a simple pass to Coleman into touch.
He was more devastating when able to get into the Gibraltar penalty area heading a Hourihane cross over after 60 seconds while McGoldrick had an early shot off target.
POOR FINISHING
But it was largely a frustrating affair as Ireland passed the ball about and went nowhere.
A better team than Gibraltar may have been able to take advantage. But Gibraltar are not a good team with it almost comical how often Goldwin put goal kicks into touch.
Yet, Ireland’s frustrations naturally meant they grew in confidence though Tjay De Barr was still ambitious with his 30-yard sighter that was well off target – one of only two shots they had.
More troubling was De Barr’s next intervention on 27 minutes when he under hit a pass towards the unmarked Anthony Bardon as Jeff Hendrick got back to intercept.
Two minutes later, Ireland did go in front to ease tensions somewhat and they could have eased a lot more than Robinson not had more luck with his finishing.
The Preston North End star had looked lively in the early stages and a Coleman cross was nearly turned in by him and a Gibraltarian defender sliding in.
Just before the half, he cut in front the right and unleashed a left-foot shot that kissed the outside of the post as it flew by.
BRADY NETS LATE
And only brave goalkeeping by Goldwin stopped Scott Hogan tapping in a McGoldrick cross with the front man looking a lot more dangerous when running behind as the minutes ticked on.
He three times had headed opportunities early in the second half though the lack of a second goal was also clearly preying on Ireland’s minds.
Were it not, it should have been when a quick counter attack by Gibraltar saw Liam Walker have a shot deflected into the grateful hands of Darren Randolph.
Still, Ireland were still pressing forward which they someone combined with lethargy that resulted in no further goals.
McGoldrick had a weak shot saved by Goldwin after good work on the left by Robinson and Coleman while Jeff Hendrick, Robinson and Hogan all had shot blocked.
Hogan then forced a good save out of Goldwin with his last action of the game on 66 minutes before being replaced by Sean Maguire.
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And McGoldrick came agonisingly close to doubling Ireland’s advantage and putting everyone’s mind at ease on 70 minutes when he crashed a shot from the edge of the area off the post.
Ireland kept up the pressure – they finished with a whopping 72 per cent of possession, having won 13 corners and having taken 27 shots.
But the points were only made safe in injury when McClean whipped the ball out from his feet that enticed Goldwin off his line leaving Brady the opportunity to head into the empty net.
