INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY

H needed boost at the end of a turbulent few weeks

O’brien – regularly pushed into wide positions for his club – played with a spark and wasn’t shy putting himself about and fighting to win back ball when the hosts stepped it up late in the first-half.

Poland got off to a sold start in the Nations League last week, drawing 1-1 away to Italy and they are eager to put the memories of a disappointing World Cup – where they finished bottom of their group – behind them.

Under new management, they had the better chances in the first-half although Darren Randolph was nowhere near as busy as he had been at Cardiff City Stadium when little went right for him.

Arkadiusz Milik ought to have put the Poles ahead after 10 minutes but, when Stevens slipped, he somehow planted his free header wide of Randolph’s post. It was a real let off.

Grzegorz Krychowiak tried to backheel a Marcin Kaminski shot past Randolph from close range but his accuracy let him down, while O’brien flashed a dropping ball in the box just wide at the other end.

That was Ireland’s only chance before the break but O’neill’s makeshift team – Richard Keogh captained the side in Seamus Coleman’s injury enforced absence – were performing admirably enough in a low-pressure environment.

And they carried that confidence into the secondhalf and took the lead eight minutes into it. Keogh played a ball back to Callum O’dowda and his lofted cross found

O’brien and his guided header fizzed past Wojciech Szczesny.

Poland stepped things up thereafter and were the better side as Ireland looked to protect their slender lead.

And they were just three minutes from pulling off a morale boosting victory when Klich was played through to beat Randolph.

But next month – with Denmark and Wales in Dublin – is when it counts.

TEARS OF JOY Aiden O’brien can’t hide his emotions (right) after his brilliant debut header BETTER Captain Richard Keogh and boss Martin O’neill enjoyed upturn in fortunes