WALES .......... 4 IRELAND ........ 1
Bale sets tone as O’Neill is left to rue injuries and absences
TO TELL the truth, the Republic of Ireland’s players should simply count themselves lucky that looks cannot actually kill. Roy Keane was given plenty of reasons to deliver his trademark deathly stare as the assistant and Martin O’Neill’s side were ripped apart by the Welsh in Cardiff.
Led by Real Madrid Galactico Gareth Bale, Ryan Giggs secured his first competitive win as Wales boss, sending the Republic home with bad memories and a chastening defeat.
O’Neill spent the majority of this match throwing tantrums on the touchline but the manager will point to the fact he had umpteen players missing for one reason or another. He will also privately note that while the home side had a world-beater in Bale up front, he had a debutant in Preston North End forward Callum Robinson.
Still, this Nations League defeat was tough to watch. Embarrassing even, despite Shaun Williams’ second-half consolation strike givwanted ing the travelling fans something small to cheer about.
Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Tom Lawrence got the goals in the first half, then Connor Roberts made it four for Wales in the second, and it could have been worse.
Members of both squads had dismissed talk of this night clash being a grudge match, following on from their meetings in World Cup qualifying last year.
Ireland skipper Seamus Coleman suffered a double leg fracture in a 0-0 draw in Dublin that threatened to spiral out of control.
The return leg saw Wales’ hopes of going to Russia dashed as they lost 1-0 at this stadium, with James McClean scoring the only goal of the game.
McClean missed this trip because of a wrist injury and was one of many absentees in O’Neill’s squad. Harry Arter was also absent after a bust-up with assistant Keane.
Declan Rice was not selected as he decides whether to represent England or Ireland, while Shane Long, Robbie Brady, Scott Hogan and Sean Maguire were among others sidelined.
From the beginning, it was obvious that Bale would be a handful. When Ireland kicked off, the Welsh forward hounded Coleman until he conceded a throw-in within 10 seconds.
That set the tone. Having scored in his last three La Liga appearances, the 29-year-old more, and seemed to think the visitors were there for the taking.
Giggs’ side were on top from the outset and took only six minutes to score their opener through Lawrence, the former Manchester United youngster.
A perfectly-weighted throughball by Joe Allen found Lawrence and the 24-year-old blasted his shot beyond Darren Randolph at his near post.
The sight of the Middlesbrough goalkeeper picking the ball out of the back of his net would soon become a theme of this match.
Randolph was left feeling helpless again in the 18th minute when Bale scored a screamer that made him seem a man finally ready to step out of Cristiano Ronaldo’s shadow.
Ben Davies lumped a long ball towards the Welshman, who controlled before setting himself up to shoot from 20 yards. He curled it into the far corner, making it 2-0.
It was his 30th international goal and O’Neill had serious work to do if he was to avoid a rout. So far, the boys in green had not been at the races.
In the 37th minute, Robinson had his chance to introduce himself on the international stage, but the Preston forward’s curled shot went up and over the crossbar. It was one he would no doubt relive when trying to sleep later that night.
Moments later, it was 3-0 when Ethan Ampadu robbed the ball off a lacklustre Jon Walters, then fed Ramsey. The Arsenal midfielder beat Randolph by tucking his shot into the bottom corner.
It had been an abysmal first half from O’Neill’s side. You could only wonder what was being said in the changing room, given the manager had spent most of the half throwing his arms in the air in disgust.
In the 50th minute, O’Neill’s charges had a chance to get a goal back when Shane Duffy met a corner, though the 6ft 4in defender’s header sailed into Wayne Hennessey’s arms.
Not long after, it was 4-0 when Bale drove the ball towards the back of the 18-yard box. With his right foot, Roberts controlled. With his left, the 22-year-old volleyed beyond Randolph.
On 66 minutes, Ramsey had the ball on the edge of his own box but slipped, gifting possession to Williams. To the substitute’s credit, he chipped Hennessey expertly to make it 4-1.
By that time, though, the game was already as good as dead.
O’Neill takes his team to Poland for a friendly next week and one can only hope any travelling supporters are given more to shout about than they were here.