On nights like these, nights of nine substitutions, it's an audition as much as putting a shoulder to the team effort.

In that respect the post-match reaction was cautiously guarded. Wanting to impress, getting two goals and then letting the young string out for a gallop in the second half was at least eventful.

Clinton Morrision was one who enjoyed the summer grass. A debut goal. Not a bad return for the brief run.

"It was great. It was perfect," he said afterwards.

"You hope to come on, work hard and do well and just hope you'll get a chance and I managed to get a chance. It was an easy chance and I'm glad I tucked it away.

"The fans have been tremendous since I've come to join Ireland," said the Crystal Palace player. "They love their football and I thank them for that. I managed to score an alright goal and I'll just wait now to see what sort of an Irish squad he (Mick McCarthy) will pick for the Holland match.

"I thought I did alright. It's hard to adapt from first division football to international football but I thought I coped well with it."

Steve Staunton, at the other end of the spectrum from the young Morrison, made the right sounds after his man of the match award and 90th cap.

"It was a good run out for the lads, but maybe we were a bit unfortunate not to win the game," said the team's veteran.

"We'd a few new caps and Mick was able to see people in a friendly game. That is not too easy to do these days.

"Sure we let in the two goals but that happens when you're making so many substitutions. We scored two goals as well so we're taking the positives out of the game.

"We started this group with no one giving us a chance and now we're in a resonable position even though we've no illusions about what we've got to do.

"The Dutch have gone over to England and spanked them. We know it won't be an easy game but hopefully they won't like coming to Dublin," he said.

Jason McAteer, returning to his favoured middle of the park role, also stretched his legs in the second half. Unsettled at Blackburn, his future at club and internationally are still in the wind.

"It was nice to get a run out and be involved," he said. "It's been a bit of a difficult time for me. The manager (Graeme Souness) has said I can go. We don't seem to be getting on. Mick has kept me involved in this game and when I came on I felt I did okay.

"I was happy playing at Liverpool but they played me on the right and I don't think it was good for me.

"I tried to get back in the middle at Blackburn but then Brian Kidd went and got the frigging sack. Graeme Souness came in and we fell out and that's the situation at the moment.

"Mick can see I can play in the middle. It's now come down to this game against Holland. I think we can hold our hands up and say we messed up over in Amsterdam.

" Like tonight we should have kept hold of a two-goal lead. But we're at home ... we looking forward to it."

England crashed to a 2-0 defeat by the Netherlands on Wednesday night.

Germany swept to a 5-2 victory over Hungary on a hectic night of friendlies across Europe. World Cup holders France cruised to a 1-0 victory over Denmark in Nantes, Arsenal's Robert Pires scoring the winner with a superb 10th-minute strike from 20 metres which flashed in off the post.