Derry’s James McClean picked up the “Man of the Match” award as Ireland’s new management team of Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane got off to a winning start with a 3-0 friendly victory over Latvia at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin earlier tonight.
James McClean with his Man of the Match award.
The former Derry City favourite showed no sign of the “dead leg`’ which Owen Coyle said ruled him out Wigan’s 1-0 win over Yeovil Town in the Sky Bet Championship on Sunday last.
The home side took the lead in the 22nd minute through Keane after McGeady’s corner was headed on at the near post by McClean.
The Derry man went close to scoring his first international goal when he cut in from the left touchline, went past three defenders before drilling his low shot into the side netting.
McClean had another chance to extend the lead in the 58th minute but he blazed his shot over the bar from ten yards after being set up by Houlahan,
Goals from McGeady (68) and Long (79) wrapped up a comfortable win for the Republic.
McClean’s performance should see him start in Ireland’s next friendly, away to Poland on Tuesday next.
Speaking after the game, O’Neill – who gave McClean his English Premiership debut while he was manager at Sunderland – said the Derry man fully deserved the award.
O’Neill said: “He was absolutely fantastic.”
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