Friendly international: Republic of Ireland 5 [Cannon 46, 56; Moylan 62, 79, 83] Grenada 0
Jack Moylan’s hat-trick ensured that an international friendly on the outskirts of Murcia will be remembered as the Republic of Ireland scored five second-half goals in a routine victory over a country ranked 163rd in the world.
Moylan’s first cap was the stuff of dreams. The 24-year-old is the first Irishman to score three goals on debut since David Kelly against Israel in 1987.
“It was not just another game,” said Moylan. “I am immensely proud to play for my country. I might never do it again, I might do it 100 times, you have to embrace it.”
The pain of not qualifying for the World Cup lingers with Jayson Molumby admitting that he continually revisits the defeat to the Czech Republic on penalties last March.
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“Still broken from Prague,” Molumby said. “I still watch the game back. I just overthink things. That’s just the way I am with all my games. Every now and again I’ll watch it back. And the Hungry game. Those big games are such incredible moments to be involved in.
“But I think we know who we are now. We had to figure out what suited us, but I feel like it is all clear to see the route we are going down. There is more discipline in the team now. You keep your position and make sure we are difficult to beat.”
Trishawn Thomas had a lot to do with the 0-0 scoreline at half-time. The Royal Grenada Police Force FC goalkeeper put on a shot-stopping clinic to deny Moylan, Conor Coventry and Adam Idah.
Even when Thomas was beaten, Irish inaccuracy kept this one-sided contest alive. Idah must still be wondering how he failed to score in the 31st minute. Chiedozie Ogbene burst off the right, clearing two defenders before teeing up the former Celtic striker, only for Idah to roll the ball wide of the far post.
There were plenty of hooped jerseys speckled among an estimated crowd of 500 Irish fans. The Celtic supporters were understandably late catching a tram to the ground as they stayed to watch Martin O’Neill’s side deny Hearts a Scottish Premiership title.
There was less drama at Estadio Nueva Condomina, although Heimir Hallgrímsson will have learned plenty about his fringe players.
Tom Cannon took his chance, scoring seconds after the break from an assist by fellow substitute Will Ferry. Ferry was the stand out player in the second-half.
“Will increased the tempo of the game down the left,” Hallgrímsson noted.
Coventry, Tayo Adaramola and Mark McGuinness made way at half-time as Ogbene switched to right wing back and Jason Knight went to centre back. It was that sort of cake walk.
Cannon remined everyone that he is a natural finisher with his second after 55 minutes. Idah’s backheel from a weighted Andrew Moran pass gave the Sheffield United striker a clear sight of the target.
Moylan made it 3-0 around the hour mark when latching onto Dara O’Shea’s clearing header. By then, the Grenadians looked shattered.
Two more debuts arrived as Ogbene and Idah made way for Millenic Alli and Aidomo Emakhu. Rory Finneran followed before the end. The 18-year-old’s first task as an Ireland international was to pick himself off the grass after being fouled on the edge of the box. Cannon smashed the resulting free-kick off the crossbar.
Cannon’s hat-trick never came but two more neat strikes by Moylan secured the match ball for the Lincoln City attacker at full-time.
Republic of Ireland: O’Leary (Keeley 73); Knight, Abankwah, McGuinness (Cannon 46), O’Shea (capt), Adaramola (Ferry 46); Molumby (Finneran 73), Coventry (Moran 46); Ogbene (Alli 63), Idah (Emakhu 63), Moylan.
Grenada: Thomas; Vincent-Young, Sandiford (Raeburn 78), Harrack, Gabriel (Ettienne 65); Muirhead, Charles; John-Brown (Lett 66), Hippolyte, Francis; Akins (Phillip 78).
Referee: Seth Galia (Gibraltar).
