World Cup agony for Republic
Rep Ireland 1 Denmark 5
THIS was the football equivalent of death by a thousand cuts – self-inflicted ones at that and therein lies the Irish agony.
The Republic let a winning position slip from their grasp as familiar failings returned to haunt Martin O’Neill and his players.
Yet again, their inability to protect an early lead came back to haunt them as they dished up two goals on a plate to opponents made to look better than they are.
From there, Denmark never looked back as Tottenham star Christian Eriksen scored a brilliant hat-trick.
Take nothing away from the quality of his first two goals. Subdued in Copenhagen on Saturday, he came roaring back to life here.
Denmark’s talisman scored eight goals in qualifying, with his first two here the pick of the bunch.
That Ireland scored 13 in this entire campaign and Eriksen has 11 of his own tells you all you need to know.
What briefly threatened to be a famous night for Ireland unravelled spectacularly.
Cyrus Christie’s own goal was unfortunate, but a less forgivable Stephen Ward mistake paved the way for Eriksen to open his account.
Not that they were looking for it, but O’Neill and Roy Keane may feel a sense of vindication when the dust settles. Ward’s rough-and-tumble approach has been lambasted by some who craved more attacking intent.
Needing two goals at the start of the second-half, Wes Hoolahan and Aiden McGeady replaced David Meyler and Harry Arter.
But in doing so, Ireland’s defensive ballast was always going to be surrendered – and Denmark had a field day.
O’Neill just had to go for it, but his team was carved open like a Sunday roast with Eriksen and Pione Sisto running riot.
The opening six minutes had already been more riveting than the 90 in Copenhagen and Shane Duffy’s goal had the Aviva Stadium daring to dream.
The big defender headed home after striker Nicolai Jorgensen created panic in the Danish box with a woeful attempt to clear Robbie Brady’s free-kick.
But while the goal energised the hosts, it changed nothing for the visitors who still needed to score.
Defensively, Ireland were leaking like a rusty bucket across midfield and Meyler and full-back Christie were repeatedly targeted.
Sisto nutmegged Arter after a short corner and his cross found Chelsea’s Andreas Christensen, whose prodded shot clipped the post before Christie nudged it over the line. Ireland’s fate was sealed three minutes later after Ward coughed up ball to Yussuf Poulsen, who triggered a sublime one-touch move.
Jorgensen teed up Eriksen, who dispatched a delicious high shot into the net. There was no way back. In 10 second-half minutes, Eriksen buried two goals before Nicklas Bendtner rubber-stamped a nightmare night for Ireland from the spot.