Stephen Kenny was in attendance as Ireland sauntered to a 3-0 win.
Gavin Cooney reports from Turner's Cross Republic of Ireland U21s 3 San Marino U21s 0 THIS WAS ROUTINE if not merciless from Jim Crawford’s U21s, who sailed past San Marino with ease at Turner’s Cross to go two for two from their Euro qualification campaign’s start.
Stephen Kenny, now haunted by a seemingly irresistible amount of pressure, was among the crowd at Turner’s Cross, sitting alongside his assistant Keith Andrews. FAI president Gerry McAnaney was present too, although there was no sign of CEO Jonathan Hill or Director of Football Marc Canham, both of whom will address Kenny’s position at a media briefing on Thursday.
That the opening goal came after only eight minutes hinted at a deluge that did not come. Ireland’s passing was occasionally sloppy and their finishing awry: Armstrong back-heeled a Healy snapshot agonisingly wide from close to the goal-line, while Armstrong then sent a point-blank header glancing agonisingly wide from Vata’s cross.
Armstrong resumed his search for a goal after the break, nutmegging defender Matteoni and then having his jersey pulled to the point it ripped. The Andorran referee was bizarrely unmoved by San Marino’s prodigious shirt-pulling all night – perhaps he was exhibiting the empathy of the international minnow – so Armstrong had to carry on and thud a shot into the side-netting. Karma swung around a few minutes later.
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