Loss ‘only’ a pre-season game
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The Irish players were downbeat after last night’s 3-0 loss against Australia at Thomond Park. However, some of them were keen to state that the game was still part of pre-season and a chance to get some fitness before the real stuff happens next month.
“I don’t think we gave a great account of ourselves,” Kevin Kilbane said after the final whistle. “When they have Tim Cahill in their ranks, he punished us with two great finishes and it was too difficult to come back from that.
“I think the result will be read into a lot but we know that everybody isn’t sharp enough. We used it as a fitness exercise tonight, and to prepare for the Cyprus game away next month,” added the Hull City defender who will now be joined by Stephen Hunt at the KC Stadium.
“Genuinely, tonight is a disappointment but I believe we have to move on quickly. We’ve got players who are strong enough to get over it and we can really push it aside and move onto the Cyprus game.”
“We won’t read into the Cyprus result either tonight,” Kilbane concluded on the Cypriots 6-1 loss to Albania.
Kevin Doyle limped off with a groin injury at half-time and he now faces a battle to be fit for Wolves’ Premier League opener against West Ham on Saturday afternoon.
"It was good to get my first 45 minutes under my belt to get some rustiness out of the system but a bit disappointing for it to end like that,” the Wexford man said.
"When I got hit a minute before half-time, it was the same type of pain that went through my leg as the previous injury. Hopefully, it’s just the scar tissue that got affected, that’s what I’m praying it is anyway.”
Doyle was also surprised at how easily the Irish were swept away by the Aussies, though the former Cork City and Reading star was thankful the defeat came in a friendly.
"Maybe this was the kick in the back-side we needed. Because the defeat has come in a friendly, it lets us off the hook and we wouldn’t get away with that in a qualifier. Australia are a decent team though and I’d love to play them again some time."
Meanwhile, Richard Dunne was also frustrated with the first game to be played in Thomond Park. “It’s disappointing to lose the game but it was all about getting sharpness. As the game went on you could see the improvement in players. I’m sure come September we’ll be ready.
"I don’t think anyone could have cemented their place in the team for the Cyprus game after that performance but inevitably players will be better prepared after playing a few more game at club level."
“I don’t think we gave a great account of ourselves,” Kevin Kilbane said after the final whistle. “When they have Tim Cahill in their ranks, he punished us with two great finishes and it was too difficult to come back from that.
“I think the result will be read into a lot but we know that everybody isn’t sharp enough. We used it as a fitness exercise tonight, and to prepare for the Cyprus game away next month,” added the Hull City defender who will now be joined by Stephen Hunt at the KC Stadium.
“Genuinely, tonight is a disappointment but I believe we have to move on quickly. We’ve got players who are strong enough to get over it and we can really push it aside and move onto the Cyprus game.”
“We won’t read into the Cyprus result either tonight,” Kilbane concluded on the Cypriots 6-1 loss to Albania.
Kevin Doyle limped off with a groin injury at half-time and he now faces a battle to be fit for Wolves’ Premier League opener against West Ham on Saturday afternoon.
"It was good to get my first 45 minutes under my belt to get some rustiness out of the system but a bit disappointing for it to end like that,” the Wexford man said.
"When I got hit a minute before half-time, it was the same type of pain that went through my leg as the previous injury. Hopefully, it’s just the scar tissue that got affected, that’s what I’m praying it is anyway.”
Doyle was also surprised at how easily the Irish were swept away by the Aussies, though the former Cork City and Reading star was thankful the defeat came in a friendly.
"Maybe this was the kick in the back-side we needed. Because the defeat has come in a friendly, it lets us off the hook and we wouldn’t get away with that in a qualifier. Australia are a decent team though and I’d love to play them again some time."
Meanwhile, Richard Dunne was also frustrated with the first game to be played in Thomond Park. “It’s disappointing to lose the game but it was all about getting sharpness. As the game went on you could see the improvement in players. I’m sure come September we’ll be ready.
"I don’t think anyone could have cemented their place in the team for the Cyprus game after that performance but inevitably players will be better prepared after playing a few more game at club level."
About Alan Smith
Alan Smith works as a sub-editor for the Guardian newspaper in London. Originally from Cork, he freelances for several other newspapers and websites. Follow him on twitter @alansmith90. View Full Profile