While Stephen Hunt laments what he sees as a missed opportunity to further his claim to a regular spot in the Irish team on Wednesday night, Celtic's Aiden McGeady arrived back to training with his club in Scotland yesterday satisfied his performance in Aarhus has advanced his cause.
The 21-year-old played a key part in two of Ireland's four goals, and the ease with which he went past opponents, combined with the accuracy of his passes, will have impressed manager Steve Staunton as he ponders going to Bratislava and Prague without Damien Duff.
"Every game you play for Ireland you want to show the manager what you are all about," says the Celtic player. "You want to impress with every opportunity you get. That's what it's about really, and I hope I have done myself justice with this game.
"I enjoy playing in matches like that because we were knocking the ball around so well. We have got players who can pass the ball around and you know you are going to get on the ball, the other players are going to make space for you."
The winger certainly benefited from the way the game turned in Ireland's favour after an opening 20 minutes when the visitors were on the back foot and he was rather quiet. It was his 11th appearance at this level but only the second time he stayed on for the 90 minutes after last year's encounter with The Netherlands - against whom things went rather less well.
In the meantime, he has featured in most of the qualifiers and his place in the starting line-up against Slovakia provided the strongest indication yet that Staunton already sees him as having the ability to make a major impact in key games.
"What Stan wants me to do is stand out wide and try to get crosses into the box, and I was happy I was able to get one for Robbie who was brave, got in there and took it well, as well as a pass for Shane who managed to score also. Overall, of course, I was pleased.
"I'd say it was probably my best game for Ireland, but I haven't really had a run in the team. It's been 10 minutes here and 15 minutes there. I think I've only started one or two games. But hopefully I am going to have a bit of a run now, I'm looking to stay in there."
He may get his wish. With Duff likely to be out until after the end of the campaign, and Hunt, by his admission, failing to seize the chances that have come his way, McGeady's prospects of nailing down a place were bound to improve.
A change of formation and the return of Stephen Ireland could yet prove his undoing, at least temporarily, but Staunton will think long and hard before depriving his strikers of the sort of service that they so eagerly capitalised on this week.
McGeady is full of admiration for their handiwork too, and suggested Long's performance this week has created a serious alternative for Staunton.
"Robbie took his goals well and so did Shane when he came on. Both of them came up with clinical finishes, which is really pleasing. It's good to have players like that. Shane leads the line really well. He is strong and mature beyond his years.
"In the last few games it has sort of been Robbie and Kevin, but with Shane there too there is a bit more competition now. He played well, he's is in form and with the big games to come in a few weeks, it's good to have that sort of competition because it keeps everyone on their toes."
