While the Irish rugby team were uncertain to say the least against France, many of their international soccer counterparts blazed a trail across channel at the weekend.
By Niall Delaney
Shane Long
The former Tipp underage hurler and oh yeah, Reading striker, has made the step up from the Championship to the Premier League with consummate ease thus far. Two goals against two of the league’s best teams in back to back fixtures suggests that Long’s chaotic mix of power, pace and athleticism should stand him in good stead this season.
His goal against Chelsea was like many of the 25 he plundered last season for Reading, using his searing speed to tear past defenders and slot home calmly with a precise side footed finish. If only it was John Terry and not Alex that was left dumped on his arse; that would have made it extra special.
As it was, his goal was not enough to earn the points, as this thoroughly unlikable Chelsea team came back to win 2-1. However, Shane Long has made a lot of people sit up and take notice these last two weeks. Let’s just hope Trapattoni’s DVD player is in good working order.
Kevin Doyle
The Wolves frontman had an excellent game against Fulham on Sunday. Doyle gave Brede Hangeland a seriously tough time and outmuscled and outran the giant Norwegian on almost every occasion throughout the first half. The close personal friend of Irish legends Mick Wallace and Pat Dolan scored an absolute beauty, firing into the top corner from an implausibly tight angle after some good footwork on a well worked short corner from the men in orange.
Notable mentions must go out to Stephen Hunt, who is bringing a new dimension to words like Bubbly, sprightly and vivacious (its means bubbly!) and to Stephen Ward. The former Bohs man, who, let’s face it, won’t win many beauty pageants, may win a spot at left back for the crucial international double header against Slovakia and Russia next month. Ward made two crucial last ditch tackles to stop Martin Jol’s team scoring, leaving Fulham striker-cum-rapper Clint Dempsey feeling like a bad ass-cum-bad footballer.
Keith Andrews
Keith Andrews, a new signing for Ipswich, scored an absolute pearler for the East Anglia club away at Peterborough before going on to do what Keith Andrews does best and wilt at the heart of a team’s midfield as they get stuffed. 7-1 it finished up, 7-1 against Peterborough, we know! Elsewhere in the championship, Kevin Kilbane scored with a header for Derby (in the right end)
Robbie Keane
How could we have left without a mention for the Tallaght Tyro Robert David Keane? Having being firmly put in his place by his wife Claudine and ordered to move to LA, Robbie finally got back up and stood on his own two feet again, scoring as soft a goal as you’ll see after rounding a goalkeeper who is obviously very confused as to what he is actually doing on a soccer pitch, with gloves on, in front of real people.
If this is the bar, then Robbie will get as much confidence as he needs after a depressing last two years. David Beckham, for what it’s worth, delivered the pass from his customary quarter-back position. We know, we prefer midfielder too.
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