We’re on the one road.
It’s very much mission complete so far. Ireland have made it to France, they have reinvigorated the optimism of the country and they have done themselves proud.
But who impressed most? Here’s the player ratings for the players that featured throughout the entire 12-game qualifying campaign.
Darren Randolph 8
Appearances: 4
Clean sheets: 2
Just over three and a half games, two clean sheets, one assist. Just over three and a half games and Darren Randolph cemented himself as the country’s number one from relatively nowhere. A real-life underdog story. He grabbed his chance when he got it.
Shay Given 7
Appearances: 5
Clean sheets: 3
Won his place back admirably off of David Forde mid-campaign when he came in for the Poland match in March and kept a hold of his jersey right up until he was injured in the Germany game. Not as sharp as he was in his prime and his kicking offered a few heart-in-mouth moments but didn’t do a whole lot wrong.
David Forde 6
Appearances: 4
Clean sheets: 1
His only clean sheet came at home to Gibraltar, not that he was really at fault for any of the goals he did leak v Goergia, Germany or Scotland. Lost his place though in March and looks to be well down the pecking order at the minute looking to the summer.
Seamus Coleman 9
Appearances: 8
Pure Donegal. That was the term Eamon Dunphy used to describe Coleman after the first play-off game in Bosnia. It’s bizarre that a full back goes into any game as a marked man but the Everton star was targeted in every outing. He coped with it though and he was the side’s best defensive player throughout as well. The amount of nothing balls and sticky situations that he tidied up was stunning.
Cyrus Christie 7
Appearances: 2
Goals: 1
Impressed against Gibraltar. Really impressed against Germany. He has already secured himself the tag as Seamie’s replacement and that is no mean feat. Fans will be delighted he’s on the plane to France.
Richard Keogh 9
Appearances: 5
He was very good against Scotland but then wasn’t given a chance until injuries forced him into the Germany tie. At the second time of asking, he gave the management no other option but to keep him in the side. Absolutely deadly at the back.
Ciaran Clark 8
Appearances: 4
Timed his run to perfection. He was initially fourth choice behind O’Shea, Wilson and Keogh and, right now, he is one half of the main centre half pairing.
John O’Shea 7
Appearances: 11
Goals: 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHDpdyvPWAs
Marc Wilson 6
Appearances: 6
Go-to centre half at the start of the campaign but injury has seen him slip right down the list now. He has a fight to get that place back but he could prove crucial at the Euros if he can show over the next few months that he can play at left back.
Stephen Ward 5
Appearances: 6
Probably actually gave his best game against the world champions ironically but his lack of match fitness is telling. As his ability compared to some of the others vying for spots.
Robbie Brady 8
Appearances: 11
Goals: 1
People wondered if O’Neill would use him at the start of the campaign. He did. And he used him to great effect. All over the pitch. He is really starting to come of age.
Glenn Whelan 6
Appearances: 9
Grand.
James McCarthy 8
Appearances: 9
Really moved through the gears to the point where he was finally dominating games for Ireland by the end of the campaign. Seems confident. And seems aggressive. He has arrived.
David Meyler 6
Appearances: 4
Deputised at right back, left back and holding midfield. A handy man to have around the place. Nothing but no-one gets between him and the ball.
Stephen Quinn 5
Appearances: 5
Started away in Germany and away in Georgia. Tidy footballer but didn’t impose himself on games.
Darron Gibson 4
Appearances: 3
Injury-ravaged campaign and, by his own capable standards, you don’t want to see him on the bench. If he can get back and firing to his old self in time for the summer, O’Neill will have a headache on his hands. Or on his head.
Jeff Hendrick 8
Appearances: 10
One of the manager’s favourites, he started very quietly but began slowly realising that he was more than capable of making things happen in the Irish midfield at this level. Another exciting prospect when we were told there was nothing coming through for the future.
Wes Hoolahan 9
Appearances: 10
Goals: 1
Gorgeous. We’re running out of superlatives for Ireland’s genius maestro.
Aiden McGeady 4
Appearances: 7
Goals: 2
Seemed to be a real favourite of O’Neill’s early on and he was even playing in Hoolahan’s role for spells. His last minute worldie against Georgia was spectacular but it was 12 games ago now and he has fallen out of favour. Still one of the lads who will realistically be used at some stage, even if off the bench.
James McClean 7
Appearances: 9
Goals: 2
He’s almost a perfect supersub (which he will no doubt not want to accept). His tackles lift the crowd and the team, his passion is visible in how he plays, he injects pace and purpose. He’s actually what every fan promises they would be if they were given a chance. He’ll want back in the team though. It will be hard however with Ireland’s narrower set-up of late.
Kevin Doyle 3
Appearances: 1
Played 27 minutes of the home win against Gibraltar. Has a long way to go to not only to get back to the heights he once commanded for Ireland, but to get on the 23-man squad for France.
Daryl Murphy 5
Appearances: 5
Putting in serious shifts for the side and the country are seeing his value, even with Shane Long battling with him for that spot. He can actually keep his starting spot if he gets more aggressive and sharp up top and, of course, adds goals to his international game.
Robbie Keane 6
Appearances: 9
Goals: 5
He has proven in the last five months that he is not just a footballing legend, but he is a real leader. Still oozes class and has a cleverer brain than any of them (equal with Hoolahan though obviously), it’s just his body is starting to act slower than his mind now. Still has a lot to offer though – on the pitch as well as off it.
Shane Long 8
Appearances: 9
Goals: 3
Won four points for the country with his last-gasp equaliser against Poland and his famous strike against the Germans – both times coming off the bench. His pace is looking more and more frightening every time he steps onto a pitch and the crowd are seemingly roaring him to greatness. A very good campaign, with even more to come.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceG7EUOjDGg
Jon Walters 10
Appearances: 10
Goals: 5
He’s gone from cult hero to hero. He’s a bona fide Irish legend now. He’s led the scoring charts alongside none other than Robbie Keane and everything he’s been asked to do, he has done and more. Seems to have made a new position for himself where he is now a striker-come-winger-come-defensive midfielder. Jon Walters never falters.
