Koreans give Irish thorough workout

"A useful exercise," was the way that Irish manager Brian Kerr summed up yesterday's 3-3 draw with South Korea in Ibadan. But the game wasn't without its worrying moments, as Blackburn's Damien Duff and St Patrick's Athletic full back Keith Doyle limped out of the Irish team's last taste of even vaguely competitive action before Sunday's first group match against Mexico.

Duff, who was kicked in the back of the leg early on in what was a surprisingly physical game, was the first to go. The 20-year-old had played just 15 minutes when he was on the receiving end of a late challenge which left him nursing a bruised muscle.

Doyle went on for another 20 minutes, but the Dubliner admitted that, even when Duff was making his exit, he was beginning to suffer due to the heat. By the time he was replaced by Thomas Heary shortly before the end of the 40-minute first period, he was obviously struggling badly.

Dr Ronan O'Callaghan, though initially concerned about Doyle's condition, said the player was fine and that, while they would ensure that he undergoes some precautionary tests this morning, yesterday's exhaustion is unlikely to threaten his availability on Sunday.

Alex O'Reilly, meanwhile, was the only player not given a run out yesterday because of a minor injury. But the West Ham goalkeeper who did so well for the team out in Cyprus last summer, will be an automatic starter for the group games.

Dean Delaney, on the other hand, who started in O'Reilly's place yesterday, will feel that he did at least enough to further his cause with Kerr yesterday. The Everton player may have conceded three goals, but on a smaller than regulation pitch at the Society of African Missions' Seminary at New Bodije the game had an air of the schoolyard about it, with a disproportionate number of chances created at both ends.

Space in the centre, though, was hard to come by, and while Duff, employed in the centre alongside Barry Quinn at the start, quickly made an impression with his close control, it was hard for players from either side to play particularly structured football.

Nevertheless, the Koreans provided an interesting test for the Irish, especially early on when the heat.

"They were a good side all right," said Kerr, "but I thought we got stronger as it went on, particularly as it cooled down and the lads began to cope a bit better.

"Overall the whole exercise was very pleasing. We're only here a couple of days but most of the lads appear to be adapting well and we saw the difference today between the afternoons and evenings."

Kerr will have been particularly pleased with the way his side came from behind to get something out of yesterday's game. Kim Kyung Il, a wide midfielder with plenty of skill and pace, scored the first of the Korean goals thanks mainly to his determination in the 11th minute. Shortly afterwards, Kim un Joong made it two with a low drive that beat Delaney low to his right.

After Barry Quinn scored from the penalty spot and Liam George got the goal of the game - a fierce strike from the edge of the area after a fine run up the left - the Irish briefly led thanks to Robbie Keane.

By then some of the other team's players were visibly unhappy with the refereeing of a certain Noel O'Reilly, but Na Hee Kun struck a few minutes short of the end with a repeat of his side's second goal.