The mollycoddling period is over. In dropping a regular like Jamie McGrath, due to non-selection in the third tier of English football, Stephen Kenny has revived a ruthless streak that is intended to seep into Republic of Ireland performances against Belgium, Lithuania and beyond.
It is a logical step in the evolution of a team keen to turn naysayers into disciples.
A steady frustration around the Ireland set-up and how they are judged, or let off the hook, has largely been drowned out by circumstance. Former players and Brian Kerr, the other home-grown international manager, have been scratching their heads at how easy the ride has been for Kenny.
Many of them see a half-empty glass after four wins from 20 matches since Kenny took over while others, and recent noises from the Lansdowne crowd indicates an overwhelming majority, bear witness to a steady recovery after decades of mismanagement by the FAI.
The masses …
- March 19, 2022
