Trap’s too lazy to do it, so leave it to JOE to look back on the performances of the established and potential members of the Ireland squad over the weekend.
Shay Given
One of the greatest goalkeepers this nation has ever produced ended a 16-month spell without a Premier League start in the best possible circumstances on Saturday. Aston Villa fans will be thinking “money well spent” after Given put in a flawless display between the posts in the scoreless draw with Fulham. Twice he denied Bobby Zamora from point blank range and also managed to prevent Andrew Johnson’s thumper from rustling the net.
Enjoy the Match of the Day highlights here:
Stephen Ward
There isn’t a whole lot more this guy can do to justify his place in the Irish team. Last Wednesday night he put in a good shift in a green shirt at the Aviva in what was an uneventful international friendly with Croatia.
On Saturday, Wolves battled it out with Blackburn and it was Ward’s cracker of a volley that was the ultimate difference. A super finish, solid all-round performance and an odds-on shot to be on the team-sheet for the Euro 2012 qualifiers next month.
Shane Long
West Brom’s record signing has but only one person to thank for the close to perfect debut – David de Gea. We’ve had a chat here in the JOE office and we’re all pretty confident that any of our grandmothers could have got down in time to stop Long’s shot which drew the Baggies level with the defending champions on Sunday.
Wes Hoolahan
It’s hard to believe the former Shelbourne man is 29. The transition to the Premier League didn’t knock Hoolahan off his stride whatsoever at the weekend and he duly stepped up to the plate to garb the equaliser against Wigan.
He probably has a lot more work to do before Trap comes calling on his services again, but he has used him in squads for friendlies in the past and Hoolahan might just deserve another shot.
Noel Hunt
Who said Shane Long couldn’t be replaced up front for Reading? Fellow Irishman Noel Hunt hit his first goal of the season in a 2-0 win over Sven Goran Eriksson’s Leicester. It was a brilliant glancing header from the 27-year-old. Worth mentioning that the provider for the goal was none other than Ian Harte.
Keith Fahey
We imagine Chris Hughton breathed a long sigh of relief when Fahey hit the only goal of the game with Coventry to ensure all three points for the new Birmingham manager. Fahey will surely play some part in the games with Slovakia and Russia in September and it’s vital he holds his place with Blues in the coming weeks.
Anthony Stokes
We all know Trap isn’t his biggest fan but maybe Stokesy’s form in Scotland warrants a recall.
The former Hibs striker scored in his third successive SPL game of the season for Celtic at the weekend but picked up an ankle injury for his troubles. But let’s be honest, how difficult is it to score in the SPL?
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