Hendrick saves Irish blushes out in Gibraltar
Jeff Hendrick handed Mick McCarthy a winning start to his second spell in charge as the Republic of Ireland launched their Euro 2020 campaign with a narrow victory in Gibraltar.
Hendrick’s first international goal since September 2016 ultimately settled a tight encounter fought out on a plastic pitch in swirling winds at the Victoria Stadium, in front of the man who famously took the nation to the 2002 World Cup finals.
It was far from pretty on a night when Ireland dominated possession against a team comprised largely of part-time footballers, but created few clear-cut chances.
However, they left having banked three Group D points, the minimum requirement heading into Tuesday night’s clash with fastimproving Georgia.
Gibraltar started brightly and saw ambitious appeals for an early penalty waved away after midfielder Liam Walker blasted a shot into a mass of white shirts.
David McGoldrick sent a seventh-minute volley over the bar, before home keeper Kyle Goldwin got his hands on Richard Keogh’s stabbed effort after Hendrick had fired across the penalty area.
Ireland would have taken the lead in fortuitous circumstances with 28 minutes gone had it not been for Goldwin’s excellent reactions.
Seamus Coleman made the most of the space he and Matt Doherty were afforded down the right to send in a driven cross which defender Roy Chipolina could only head towards his own goal, prompting the keeper to instinctively throw out a hand and somehow turn the ball over the crossbar.
Irish frustration might have grown significantly within seconds of the restart when Chipolina powered a header towards goal from Walker’s corner and Randolph reacted smartly to repel his effort.
The Republic’s nerves were settled three minutes later when Conor Hourihane played McGoldrick into space down the left and he cut into the box before rolling the ball into the path of Hendrick, who swept his first-time shot inside the far post.
Ireland were more composed as they set about the task of cementing their lead with Robbie Brady added to the mix in place of Doherty, although their advantage might have disappeared with 64 minutes gone when Lee Casciaro curled a shot across Randolph, but just wide of the far post.
Randolph was pleased to see Keogh take the sting out of Walker’s 75th-minute drive and Ireland saw out time with few real scares.