Heimir Hallgrimsson's reign as Ireland manager started with a defeat as England enjoyed a well-earned 2-0 victory in the UEFA Nations League encounter at Aviva Stadium.
A bright start from the home side, but it was the visitors who quickly took control and they made their superiority count in the 11th minute as former Ireland international, Declan Rice, opened the scoring.
And sure enough, it was another former Ireland underage international, Jack Grealish, who would add a second in the 26th minute to hand interim England manager Lee Carsley an opening win.
There was a lot of booing at Lansdowne Road as the game finally got going a few minutes after the scheduled kick-off time; Rice was booed, Grealish was booed, God Save the King was barely audible such was the impassioned booing by some among the home support, and then, eventually, the full-house as Carsley appeared on the big screen.
Granted, the vitriol towards the England manager, and former Ireland midfield, was not half as venomous as that spat out at Rice and Grealish, and then, sure enough, within 20 seconds of kick-off, Jayson Molumby attempted to set the tone with the first challenge as he slammed into the back of Kobbie Mainoo – they cheered that one.
It was a bright start from the Irish as an early corner offered an opening chance as Molumby headed over at the back post – a tough ask to convert as the ball came at pace and with a wicked deflection.
It took England about seven minutes to settle but then the visiting side took control as the packed stadium got an introduction to England's dynamic left flank as Anthony Gordon was sent flying forward, and while the ball into the box went too deep, it was helped back and an unmarked Harry Kane should have hit target but slammed his header over.
Partner in crime on the left side of midfield, Grealish was constantly showing, looking to dictate, moving out left from an initial central position.
But Ireland appeared unfazed at that early stage and in the 11th minute, it was the home side who forced the first real effort on target.
Grealish was done in possession, allowing Ogbene and Molumby push forward, before Sammie Szmodics raced in from the left, cut inside and looked to curl beyond Jordan Pickford.
It was a decent save, and the ball was batted out but into the path of Ogbene, however, the Ireland winger was unable to hit it first time as England got numbers behind the ball to end the attack.
And then they scored (below).
England caught Ireland off guard as they slowly worked the ball out from the keeper, before Trent Alexander-Arnold sent one of his trademark searching balls over the top and Gordon was onto it like a flash, getting in behind the retreating Irish defence.
One on one with Kelleher, the keeper came out on top of that first duel, however, Gordon gathered, helped it to the arriving Kane, and while the Bayern Munich forward’s effort was blocked, it rolled into the path of Rice and he planted it perfectly into the top right corner.
There was no celebration from the former Ireland midfielder, yet with the entire stadium a touch shell-shocked, the England fans did not get the memo and celebrated the opener.
The home side looked to get back on the front foot – attacking through the middle, which led to a free just outside the box, as Ogbene was hit hard by Kobbie Mainoo, however, Robbie Brady hit the free straight into the wall.
And off went England once more, right through the middle this time, as Rice burst into the Ireland half with the ever-energetic Gordon in support.
It looked a certain second as Kane came onto the low ball from the left and it took a world class save from Kelleher to block the striker’s effort.
Thankfully for the home side, a lull in play followed as England slowed it right down, moving the ball at ease, waiting for the opportune moment to pounce.
But then, in the 26th minute, goalscorer turned provider as Grealish (below) helped the ball home from 12 yards out, following a fine passing move in and around the Ireland box.
Rice, Bukayo Saka and Mainoo linked well, playing all too easily around the green shirts in defence, before the Arsenal man pulled it back into the path of the unmarked Grealish, and the first-time finish offered Kelleher little chance of saving, as it curled away from the keeper into the bottom left corner.
This time there was a celebration, as the former Ireland Under-21 international ran to the away support and enjoyed his moment.
By the 33rd minute, Ireland were completely outclassed, and while another chance presented itself, Idah’s header was mistimed and unable to work the keeper, and it was symptomatic of the performance so far with Ireland just unable to show the requisite composure or quality in possession.
As with every Ireland foray forward, England were quick to counter and within seconds, Kane and Gordon were on hand once again in the home penalty area looking for an opportunity.
This time Kane tumbled over a touch dramatically looking for a penalty, while Gordon’s follow-up was deflected into the hands of Kelleher.
It took a while, but by the 37th minute, the fervent home support had been all but extinguished, as the travelling fans from Rushden to Redditch enjoyed going through the England songbook, with the trumpeter now agonisingly audible throughout the Aviva.
Two minutes later, another England attack, and another scramble inside the box, but this time Ireland eventually cleared after Kelleher’s punch did not make it out of the area.
As half-time approached, Grealish burst clear following another Ireland attack, that appeared to be halted by a handball, and again Kane was up sniffing for a shot, but his near-post effort was brilliantly blocked by Seamus Coleman.
This time it was Ireland’s chance to counter as the corner was cleared, allowing Ogbene set off down the left, leaving Mainoo in his wake before cutting the ball across the face.
Szmodics and Idah were up and attacking the six-yard box, however, the cross eluded them as it went high when it really needed to be drilled low and with pace.
It took a while for the second half to kick into gear, and then in the 57th minute, Ireland made a double substitution; one forced, as Coleman went off injured, and one tactical, with Jason Knight coming on for Matt Doherty – Ogbene slotting into the right wing-back position.
Then, a minute later, half the stadium thought Szmodics had scored as he latched onto Ogbene’s drag back and whipped a great shot at Pickford’s near post, however, the ball flew the wrong side of the post.
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— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 7, 2024
Ireland should probably pull one back but Szmodics shoots wide after fine build-up play
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And it was the start of a decent spell for Ireland as Molumby was next up with a look at goal following more good play out on the right by Ogbene and Szmodics, but again the shot could not hit the target, flying over the bar.
Another moment of Irish pressure led to Szmodics getting on the ball in space inside the box, however, he had to check back as the shooting window was firmly shut.
Midway through the half, England appeared to settle for the points, happy to sit back and thwart the sporadic Ireland attacks; a half-chance presented itself for Godon in the 69th minute against the run of play, but Kelleher wasn’t troubled.
Another double substitution saw Kasey McAteer come of for his international debut, while Alan Browne was also introduced.
Three subs for the three Lions, as Grealish milked his final moments as pantomime villain, leaving the pitch, very slowly, to an encore from the boo boys.
The game had completely lost its edge by the time Evan Ferguson came on in the 85th minute as England made changes of their own, and it was substitute Jarrod Bowen who almost made an immediate impact, forcing Kelleher to make another decent save from his close-range shot.
Five minutes of added time came and went as Saka forced a final save from Kelleher, with Ireland happy to see the game out, losing by two, but well aware that it could have been more.
Republic of Ireland: Caoimhin Kelleher; Seamus Coleman (captain) (Jake O'Brien 57), Dara O'Shea, Nathan Collins: Matt Doherty (Jason Knight 57), Robbie Brady (Evan Ferguson 82), Will Smallbone (Alan Browne 75), Jayson Molumby; Sammie Szmodics, Chiedozie Ogbene, Adam Idah (Kasey McAteer 75)
England: Jordan Pickford; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Levi Colwill, Harry Maguire (John Stones 85), Marc Guehi: Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo (Angel Gomes 77); Jack Grealish (Morgan Gibbs-White 77), Anthony Gordon (Eberechi Eze 77), Bukayo Saka, Harry Kane (Jarrod Bowen 84)
Referee: Jose Maria Sanchez (SPA)
