This isn’t spectacular but it certainly deserves your time.
This isn’t acrobatic, it’s not late injury time dramatics, nor will it be anywhere near the goal of the season awards.
But this isn’t Robbie Keane. This is Paul McShane.
For a second though, it was like they became one.
The Wicklow native equalised for Reading on Saturday to earn a point against Brighton but he did it with all the aplomb and conviction of a man who has been doing it for years.
The centre half fell out of international favour in the run-in to France but he never fell away from the love of the Irish.
But maybe the 30-year-old has a future yet. Maybe when Robbie Keane departs and if Daryl Murphy’s scoring touch never makes it to the Republic, maybe there’s a space for Paul McShane.
Judging from his finish on Saturday from Garath McCleary’s pass, it looks like everyone has been wasting the big defender.
Give him a ball.
He’ll finish it.
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