Jeff Hendrick got Ireland out from between a Rock and hard place with the only goal in an ugly win over minnows Gibraltar.
But while this was a difficult watch in Mick McCarthy’s first game of his second coming as manager, critics shouldn’t rush to judgement.
While the controversial plastic pitch was a constant conundrum, so too were the gales that smashed the Rock for three days and only intensified before kick-off.
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Ireland will never win any beauty contests, and certainly not under Martin O’Neill in a grim last year that had fans at the point of outright despair. But it was impossible to get a true sense of what significant changes have been made to their approach under McCarthy.
The conditions ruined a contest which Ireland still dominated and the Green Army will have a better handle on this team after Tuesday’s clash with Georgia in Dublin. Switzerland’s solid 2-0 win away to Georgia earlier in the day left McCarthy’s players in no doubt what was demanded of them here.
Keeping tabs on the group favourites and old foes Denmark is the priority so the three points here cannot be sniffed at. Ireland were far from foot perfect and had Darren Randolph not made an incredible save to deny Roy Chipolina, qualification hopes would have died right here on day one. Tenacious Gibraltar made Ireland work for the points and also made a lively start with Liam Walker fizzing an early free kick over the bar.
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Captain Seamus Coleman and Wolves ace Matt Doherty linked well down the right and Ireland’s best work came down their flank. But despite knocking on the door on a handful of occasions in the opening half, Gibraltar’s defence remained Rock steady and frustrated McCarthy’s men. Conor Hourihane was handed a midfield start ahead of Robbie Brady whose lack of starts at Burnley following his return from injury counted against him.
The Aston Villa midfielder was on point with his set piece delivery despite the trick conditions. Shane Duffy was charging in at the back post in the hope of latching onto one of his free-kicks while later, James McClean almost turned home another at the near post. Gibraltar’s determination to put bodies on the line was admirable but they generated little off the front foot as Ireland looked to step up the tempo.
Skipper Roy Chipolina would have put through his own net but for Kyle Goldwin’s wonder save but Ireland threatened to kick on approaching the break. Chipolina pinched a ball off David McGoldrick’s toes as he prepared to swipe at Doherty’s cross and then he headed another away as McGoldrick lurked with intent again.
Yet while Gibraltar were more than satisfied with their lot at the break, they allowed the contest get away from them minutes after the restart. But not before they put the frighteners up Ireland as Randolph bailed them out with a stunning one-handed save to keep out skipper Chipolina’s bullet header.
That was as good as it got for Julio Ribas’ men as Hendrick put Ireland ahead four minutes in when steering home McGoldrick’s pullback from just inside the box. But if that was the signal to kick on and extend the lead, Ireland failed to spot it as they laboured the point.
Sensing their unease, Gibraltar continued to make the most of their rare surges behind enemy lines and Lee Casciaro drove a vicious, angled shot across Randolph’s goal. But a lot like Ireland down the other end in the closing stages, they lacked the confidence and killer instinct to make any inroads.
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