Ireland 3 - Denamrk 0: Damien Duff on fire
soccercentral
Five star performance from the Duffer
Damien Duff at full stretch against the Danes at Landsdowne Road
Republic of Ireland 3-0 Denmark
Mick McCarthy’s cup runneth over. Star performances from Damien Duff, Clinton Morrison and a lively half-hour from Colin Healy and a three goal win over World Cup qualifiers Denmark at Lansdowne Road.
The Irish boss may well have his plans laid for squad selection but it now looks like he will have to find a place for Morrison and Healy in his final 23.
But the man of the night was Duff – brilliant at all times and given a standing ovation when he left the pitch with five minutes left on the clock.
Duff lit up the first-half with a series of spell-binding sprints down the left touchline, the boggiest area of the pitch. Every time he got the ball, a buzz went through the capacity crowd.
His first run won him a free-kick in the 5th minute which Jason McAteer quickly dispatched in the direction of the Danish six-yard box. Ian Harte rose to meet it and his header bounced off Thomas Sorenson’s knees and was scrambled clear.
Four minutes later, Duff took on two defenders and left them in a heap before cutting into the box and passing backwards from the tramline to Clinton Morrison.
The Palace striker, looking strong, willing and quick, dug a shot out from under his toes and Sorenson reacted well to block with Robbie Keane loitering with intent a few yards away.
Morrison fired in another shot in the 15th minute which was again scrambled clear but there was no stopping Ireland four minutes later.
Duff jinked and twisted his way inside two defenders and floated a deft cross into the center where Harte – of all people – stood unmarked and in a position to head comfortably to the back of the net.
Duff took a breather after that and the game died a death, reduced to regular outbreaks of head tennis in the center circle and not much else.
The Danes never really got to grips with Ireland’s long ball tactics and only infrequently managed to break forward themselves.
Dennis Rormedahl had the best chance of the half for the Danes just seconds after he took the ball full in the face from Harte. A long-punt forward in the 40th minute gave the Brondby striker the chance to break into the Irish box but Dean Kiely dived full length to save brilliantly from a stinging shot.
Half-time
Republic of Ireland 1-0 Denmark
Unlike the friendly against Russia, McCarthy kept his hands in his pockets at half-time and left the eleven men who started on the pitch – a wise move.
After ten minutes of the second period, Ireland went two up and it was another dose of Duff dazzle which won the free-kick which led to the goal.
Staunton flicked a quick pas to Robbie Keane on the right edge of the box and the Leeds striker whipped in a wicked shot which flew in at the right angle.
That signaled the chance for McCarthy to make some changes and Colin Healy, Nicky Colgan and Stephen Reid came on for Kinsella, Kiely and McAteer in quick succession.
That briefly weakened Ireland’s shape but Healy soon made his mark, forcing his way through a crowded midfield and almost setting up Morrison.
But Denmark answered that with their best chance of the game – supplied by Cunningham when he totally fluffed a back-pass. But Colgan was off his line in a flash and got a topuch to the ball just as Erbe Sand seemed certain to score.
Minutes later, Staunton galloped forward and took a chance from 30 yards, the ball narrowly missing the crossbar.
And with a minute overtime played, Healy played a ball through the middle which was flicked on by Matt Holland and there was Clinton, unmarked and in pole position. His goal wrapped up a fine night for Ireland.
Teams.
Republic of Ireland
Kiely (Colgan 65); G Kelly, Cunningham, Staunton, Harte; McAteer (Reid 65), Holland, Kinsella (Healy 63), Duff (Dunne 84); Morrison, Robbie Keane (Connolly 76).
Denmark.
Sorenson; Rytter, Henriksen, Laursen; Jan Heintze (Jensen 81), Poulsen, Neilsen, Grankjaer, Rormedahl (Lovenkrands 67) ; Neilsen (Madsen h-t), Sand.
Referee – Brian Lawlor (Wales)
Attendance - 42,000
Pretend Celtic supporters
You'd think that if they were true Celtic supporters they'd know that the guy wasn't really a Rangers player, but then most Irish Celtic fans knowledge of football doesn't extend much beyond the words to Ole Ole! Twas an embarassment alright, don't know what can be done to stamp it out though. Maybe a ban on inbreeding might do the trick. Remember the furore up north when Neil Lennon was being booed for playing for Celtic? Well after tonight we've no right to critisize anyone anymore.
