Eighty ninth minute substitute Alan Judge secured a two one victory for Ireland over the USA with the winning goal in just a little over a minute of his arrival on the Aviva Stadium pitch this Saturday evening. The match marked the final chapter in the international career of the retiring John O’Shea who captained Ireland on his 118th appearance. The Waterford man played the opening thirty four minutes of the contest before his withdrawal to a hugely merited standing ovation.
Despite dominating much of the opening half, Ireland conceded the opening goal seconds before the half-time break, with another sloppy piece of defending of a corner kick. Shamrock Rovers striker Graham Burke equalised on fifty six minutes, adding a finishing touch to debutant substitute Daragh Lenihan’s seemingly goal bound shot. There was also an international debut for Enda Stevens who was introduced to the fray on seventy eight minutes.
Starting eleven:- C Doyle; S Duffy, J O’Shea (C), K Long; S Coleman, D Rice, J Hendrick, C O’Dowda, J McClean; J Walters, G Burke