Kenny situation is tough, but straightforward

THERE can’t be many public figures in the annals of Irish sport as poorly served by his advocates as Stephen Kenny.

Their determination to defend him no matter what has finally been exhausted, and the fact that results really do matter, is now unavoidable.

Undeterred, they wailed about his terrible luck in the Euros qualifying draw.

Getting pitched into a group with Holland and France is, frankly, a disaster, but it’s one that is partly down to failures in successive Nations League campaigns.

A strategic decision was taken to prioritise qualification for Euro 2024, and this is a defensible position.

But the Nations League failures, like losing away to Armenia and getting beaten by Scotland, came at a cost, and it was felt in last week’s draw.

It leaves Kenny (left) in a tough but straightforward position. Ireland will be required to excel through all next year’s games, starting with the visit of France in March.

They must do something they managed against Portugal, twice, and show themselves capable of pushing a superior opponent as hard as they can.

But they must also do something which they have conspicuously failed to do under Kenny so far – put together a run of good games.

This last challenge looks the more forbidding, but it’s vital.

Without meeting it head on, Ireland will struggle, results will suffer – and the inevitable consequences will follow.