The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Don Hayes gets green for go
Friendly: Pittodrie midfielder impresses in first start in Ireland’s Dublin loss
Hordur Magnusson’s firsthalf free kickwasenoughto hand Iceland a friendly victory over the Republic of Ireland in Dublin last night, with Aberdeen midfielder Jonny Hayes making his mark in his first start for Martin O’Neill’s men.
The Bristol City defender Magnusson curled home a 21st-minute free kick to secure a 1-0 win as a muchchanged Ireland side spluttered through the first half before belatedly finding a rhythm. However, they were unable to make the pressure tell as they slipped to a first defeat at the Aviva Stadium for three years.
Magnusson scored when he curled a left-foot setpiece into Keiren Westwood’s bottom corner after Ireland debutant John Egan had been penalised for a foul on forward Kjartan Finnbogason.
Kevin Doyle glanced a 36th-minute header wide from a James McClean cross, but Ireland produced little of note during the first half.
Ireland lined up with winger McClean playing alongside forward Kevin Doyle with AidenMcGeady and Pittodrie man Hayes providing the width.
Neither side was able to exert any real control in a lively start to the game as they traded possession cheaply at break- neck speed with the only threat coming from Aron Gunnarsson’s long throw.
Egan found himself engaged in a physical tussle with Kjartan Finnbogason, and his 20th-minute foul on the forward cost him a booking, although that was not the end of it.
Magnusson stepped up to curl the resulting free kick over the wall and inside the post with Westwood helpless to prevent the ball from nestling in the bottom corner. But it was the visitors who continued to enjoyed the greater success, although midfielder Aron Sigurdarson failed to trouble Westwood with a wayward effort from distance 14 minutes before the break.
O’Neill resisted the temptation tomake further changes at the break as he allowed his players a chance to redeem themselves, although Westwood had to be on his toes to field a 47th-minute free kick from Magnusson.
McClean and McGeady sent early crosses into the Iceland penalty area with the Republic trying to take a more progressive approach.
But it was Hayes who caused panic in the visitors’ box with 49 minutes gone when he sent in a left-wing cross which Magnusson’s bundleduncomfortablybehind with his chest, although the home side was unable to create anything from the resulting corner.
Substitute Holmar Eyjolfsson made an important block to denyDoyle after Hendrick had headed back Hayes’ 61st-minute cross, but O’Neill made his move soon afterwards, sending on two more debutants, Andy Boyle and Daryl Horgan, as well as Stephen Gleeson and Eunan O’Kane.
Ireland finished in the ascendancy, but were only able to muster a series of half-chances which were snuffed out by the visitors as they managed to hang on with little difficulty.