“That’s easy to say. I don’t accept this.”
Stephen Kenny was not having a Tony O’Donoghue suggestion, after his Ireland side beat Armenia 3-2, that “leaders” did not stand up after his team squandered a 2-0 lead, at Aviva Stadium. Liam Brady, meanwhile, focused on some individual errors.
The Ireland boss was stressing every positive he could put his finger on, despite his side needing a late Robbie Brady penalty to squeak by a 92nd-ranked Armenia side that had been reduced to nine men.
Ireland were 2-0 up after goals from John Egan and Michael Obafemi when they were caught on the hop by an Armenian counter-attack:
GOAL Rep of Ireland 2-1 Armenia
71' Dashyan pulls one back for the visitors after reacting quickly in the area
#IRLARM #COYBIG #NationsLeague📺Watch https://t.co/1ncBhUXJWF
📻Listen https://t.co/QHSJNYlfx8
📱 Updates https://t.co/vWFplRobwr pic.twitter.com/Z0RBTaDgs5— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) September 27, 2022
Two minutes later and a disastrous Conor Hourihane pass put Ireland in a hole and Eduard Spertsyan drilled home an equaliser.
🇦🇲 Armenia score two goals in two minutes to level the game at the Aviva 😱
Eduard Spertsyan punishes a defensive mistake to make it 2-2.#IREARM pic.twitter.com/vvBIdvWUpN
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) September 27, 2022
Liam Brady on “unacceptable” Irish lapses
Ireland finished a distant third in their Nations League Group B standings and at least ensured they finished well clear of Armenia with that 3-2 win.
Following the game, former Ireland midfielder and assistant coach Liam Brady criticised the Irish midfield and named three players that did not cover themselves in glory. He told RTE:
“We switched off in midfield for the first goal… our midfield went missing. It can only be complacency. We were winning 2-0 against a team that was showing no interest in going for goals, so we switched off.
“Then Conor Hourihane gave an appalling pass across the pitch, really put his team in trouble and, all of a sudden, it’s 2-2. It’s only down to complacency… at least they fought back and got a goal.
“Ireland were a bit lucky on the night. Jayson Molumby could have got sent off for a very cynical foul in the second half, and that is why he was substituted immediately after that.”
Brady then argued that Jeff Hendrick, in not tracking the Armenia counter for the first goal, and Hourihane, with his poor pass, had made “unacceptable” mistakes and that they were largely to blame for getting their side in trouble.
‘Complacency took over…We got out of jail’ – Liam Brady and @No1shaygiven try to assess a dramatic last quarter against Armenia
#IRLARM #COYBIG #NationsLeague📺Watch https://t.co/1ncBhUXJWF
📻Listen https://t.co/QHSJNYlfx8
📱 Updates https://t.co/vWFplRobwr pic.twitter.com/HMfWFBPFOt— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) September 27, 2022
Bullish Stephen Kenny
In his post-game chat with RTE’s Tony O’Donoghue, Stephen Kenny was bullish in his comments. He admitted there had been five sloppy minutes, but credited his side for battling back to get the win.
“We played very well. Very pleased with how we played… we could have been four up, by that stage,” he said.
“We were much the better team. We could have won by a few goals, but there’s learnings there for us.”
“It’s not like a club situation where I have them in tomorrow, and I can go through them,” Kenny replied when he was asked if he had read the riot act to any of his players in the post-match changing room.
Ireland’s next game is a friendly against Norway at Aviva Stadium on November 17.
Related links.
- Ireland player ratings as Stephen Kenny’s team survive scare against Armenia.
- Ireland U21s miss out on European Championships after devastating shootout drama.
- “How long does this go on for?” – Damien Delaney challenges Stephen Kenny’s record.
Eamon Dunphy recalls his most infamous punditry moment
