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Wales v Ireland

Wales v Ireland

It's the opening Nations League encounter which sees Martin O'Neill's side travel to Cardiff

John O'Sullivan Thu, Sep 6
 
LIVE: Wales v Ireland

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  • 19:02

    Hello and welcome to the Irish Times blog for the Uefa Nations League match between Wales and the Republic of Ireland at Cardiff City stadium (7.45).

  • 19:03

    Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill has been hit by a rather extensive injury list that denies him the services of James McClean, Alan Browne, Robbie Brady, James McCarthy, Shane Long, Scott Hogan and Sean Maguire, who are all injured.

  • 19:03

    McClean, who suffered broke his wrist in training during the week, scored the only goal of the game in Ireland’s 1-0 win over the Principality side in most recent competitive match between the countries last October, which sent Ireland to the World Cup playoffs.

  • 19:05

    Harry Arter’s difference of opinion with assistant manager Roy Keane has seen him withdraw from consideration, while Declan Rice, is considering whether his international future lies with Ireland or England.


    Hopefully that's the all the bad news wrapped up from an Irish perspective for the nighht.

  • 19:06
    On a more positive and upbeat note Preston striker Callum Robinson makes his Republic of Ireland debut after declaring for O'Neill's team in March. Jon Walters starts, while Seamus Coleman captains the side.
  • 19:06
  • 19:07

    Wales are under new management in former Manchester United icon Ryan Giggs, who has been in the position of national team boss for three matches, a 6-0 win over China, a 1-0 defeat to Uruguay and a 0-0 draw with Mexico. Tonight represents Giggs first home game in charge of the Welsh team.

  • 19:07

    Chelsea teenager Ethan Ampadu, still a little over a week short of his 18th birthday, is the son of one-time Arsenal and Ireland U-21 international Kwame Ampadu, who won four caps at the age-grade level between 1989 and 1992.

  • 19:08

    Chris Gunter's run of 63 consecutive starts comes to an end as he's replaced by Connor Roberts. Bournemouth’s David Brooks starts, while Brentford’s Chris Mepham is preferred to James Chester at centre-back.

  • 19:09

    Here are the teams


    Republic of Ireland:     23 Darren Randolph; 2 Seamus Coleman (capt), 3 Cyrus Christie, 4 Shane Duffy, 5 Ciaran Clark, 8 Callum O'Dowda, 13 Jeff Hendrick, 14 Callum Robinson, 17 Stephen Ward, 19 Jon Walters, 22 Conor Hourihane.


    Wales: 1 Wayne Hennessy; 4 Ben Davies, 6 Ashley William (capt), 7 Joe Allen, 10 Aaron Ramsey, 11 Gareth Bale, 13 David Brooks, 14 Conor Roberts, 15 Ethan Ampadu, 17 Tom Lawrence, 20 Chris Mepham.    

  • 19:09
    Or if you are a more visual person.................
  • 19:10
  • 19:13
    Due to time constraints there is no way I have time to fill anyone in on how this tournament works and anyway couldn't do it as comprehensively as Patrick Madden managed in today's Irish Times. Read his explanation of how the tournament works here.
  • 19:13
  • 19:16
    It's a big night for Stephen Ward
  • 19:16
  • 19:17
    There is a little under half an hour to kickoff.  
  • 19:17
  • 19:21
    Irish Times soccer correspondent Emmet Malone is on duty tonight in Cardiff. You can read his preview here
  • 19:21
  • 19:24
    Just came across a staistic that McClean has scored four of Ireland's last five goals away from home.  
  • 19:25
    Cue picture.  
  • 19:25
  • 19:29
  • 19:34

    Dates for your diary


    Ireland's other fixtures in the group.


    October 13th: Republic of Ireland v Denmark, 19.45


    October 16th: Republic of Ireland v Wales, 19.45


    November 19th: Denmark v Republic of Ireland, 19.45

  • 19:35
    10 MINUTE WARNING
  • 19:38
    Wales manager Ryan Giggs: "Ethan (Ampadu) is a talent. I am looking forward to seeing him play."
  • 19:39
    O'Neill has only lost six of of 28 competitive games during his tenure as Irish manager.  
  • 19:40
    Former Republic of Ireland and LIverpool defender Phil Babb says: "if Ireland come away with a point they'll be happy." Do you agree?  
  • 19:40
    Teams emerge from the tunnel.  
  • 19:41
    Giant Welsh flags being passed back through the stands.  
  • 19:41
    Giggs looks fit enough to play.  
  • 19:43
    A close up of Gareth Bale reveals that he forgot to trim his 'tache.  
  • 19:45
    Four Welsh players making their debuts, Ampadu, Roberts, Mepham and Brooks.  
  • 19:46
    Handshakes look like outtakes for that well known lager ad with actor Mads Mikkelsen.  
  • 19:46
  • 19:47
    Ireland to kick off.  
  • 19:49

    2 mins: Walters up top on his own. Ireland have given away possession cheaply a couple of times already.  


    Wales 0 Ireland 0

  • 19:51

    3 mins: A couple of early touches and a couple of misplaced passes from Bale.  


    Wales 0 Ireland 0

  • 19:52
    It's been a pretty open start to the game, both sides commiting numbers forward, albeit with his end product as the quality in the final third is a little underwhelming.  
  • 19:53
    GOAL: Wales
  • 19:55

    5 mins: Joe Allen finds Lawrence inisde the Irish box and Lawrence catches Ciaran Clarke napping, finishing powerfully to the roof of the net past a helpless Randolph. A very soft goal with Clark caught ball watching.  


    Wales 1 Ireland 0

  • 19:57

    8 mins: That's Lawrence's third goal for his country. Clark will be disappointed that he allowed the Derby man to sneak in behind him.  


    Wales 1 Ireland 0

  • 19:58

    10 mins: The Welsh energy, enthusiasm and movement has facilitated a bright start.  


    Wales 1 Ireland 0

  • 19:59
  • 20:00

    12 mins: Ireland are giving away possession rather cheaply. Too many misplaced passes and hoofed clearances.  


    Wales 1 Ireland 0

  • 20:01

    13 mins: O'Dowda, drifting in the from the left,   with Ireland's first shot on target, half-blocked but comfortably caught by Hennessy.  


    Wales 1 Ireland 0

  • 20:01
  • 20:03
    Wales are switching their front three around nicely with Bale and Lawrence in particular interchanging positions nicely; it's causing problems for the Irish defence, who look a little hesitant and unsure.  
  • 20:04
    GOAL: Wales
  • 20:07

    17 mins: Bale with a stunning strike, latches on to a look ball steps inside Clark and curls the ball left-footed into the top corner. It's his 30th goal for Wales. Ireland were caught two-on-two at the back and the long ball, a beauty from Davies gave him all the scope he needed.


    Wales 2 Ireland 0

  • 20:08
    A very difficult task for Ireland is now a challenge of Everest proportions.  
  • 20:10

    22 mins: Wales have had 64 per cent possession in the first 20-minutes.  



    Wales 2 Ireland 0

  • 20:11
    Ireland get a corner but the chance peters out when Clark is adjudged to have pushed a Welsh player.  
  • 20:13

    26 mins: Superb run by Christie but his pass to Robinson was cut out. The debutant might have given Christie a better target if he had pulled wider.  


    Wales 2 Ireland 0

  • 20:14
  • 20:15

    27 mins: Hendricks free kick is headed out for a corner by Williams. Duffy caught offside and the chance goes abegging.  



    Wales 2 Ireland 0

  • 20:17

    30 mins: Ireland caught narrowly defensively or at least dragged to one side of the pitch. Lawrence lets Bale's cross run across him but Brooks blazes over; it was a decent chance.


    Wales 2 Ireland 0  

  • 20:18
    31 mins: Great counter-attack from Wales ends with Lawrence having his shot parried away by Randolph.  
  • 20:20

    32 mins: Wales are playing great football, sharp, incisive, good movement, intelligent interplay and aware of what's on with the long ball when required.  


    Wales 2 Ireland 0

  • 20:21
    There's a touch of a training session about this match for the last five minutes, backs versus forwards.    
  • 20:22

    34 mins: Davies with a brilliant cross, whipped in to the penalty spot and Roberts nips between two Irish defenders but powers a free header over the crossbar. Should have been 3-0. The interval can't come quickly enough for the visitors.  


    Wales 2 Ireland 0

  • 20:24

    35 mins: Best move of the match for Ireland involving Coleman and Hendrick but Robinson sidefoots his effort from 12-yards over the crossbar. He might have done better and should certainly have forced a save. Still it is better .


    Wales 2 Ireland 0

  • 20:24
    GOAL: Wales
  • 20:26

    36 mins: Walters is dispossessed too easily by Ampadu, the young Chesea player slides a ball through to Ramsay and he beats Randolph at the Irish goalkeeper's near post. There were so many Irish errors but it was still a neat finish and no more than Wales deserve.


    Wales 3 Ireland 0

  • 20:27
    Mark Add the live score to the page. Its rather difficult having to scroll back to see if there was a goal. The page should read for example, wales 2-0 Ireland, at the top but it does not.
  • 20:29

    41 mins: Ireland look limited and laboured now, a little shell-shocked.


    Wales 3 Ireland 0

  • 20:29

    42 mins: Ireland have conceded eight goals in their last 127 minutes of football.  


    Wales 3 Ireland 0

  • 20:32

    44 mins: Ryan Giggs looks slightly bemused as if he can't believe how well his first home game is going.  


    Wales 3 Ireland 0

  • 20:34
    Half-time: Wales 3 Ireland 0
  • 20:36
    Ireland have been completely outplayed but they were complicit in the defending for all three goals. Ball watching for the first, underresourced for the second and downright sloppy for the third.  
  • 20:38

    From a Welsh perspective there is so much to admire in the bright, lively way in which they are moving the ball and the clever rotation up front that is completely bamboozling the Irish defenders.  



    Having been critical of the Irish defending, Bale's finish was sublime for the second while both Lawrence and Ramsay, put their laces through the ball, twice beating Randolph at his near post.  

  • 20:39
    If you take Christie, O'Dowda and Robinson out of the equation, there are precious few other Irish players that are meeting the minimum standard for international football.  
  • 20:42
    Babb describes Ireland's defending as "a comedy of errors." Had to disagree.  
  • 20:42
  • 20:42
    Another former Irish international has his view.  
  • 20:42
  • 20:45
    Ronan The Welsh have bamboozled us
  • 20:48
    STAT ATTACK: Wales have scored more goals (three) in the first half than they had in their previous seven games against the Republic of Ireland combined (two).  
  • 20:50
    I can not believe that people are giving out about Declan Rice as if he's somehow responsible for what's going on in Cardiff.  
  • 20:51
    No changes for Ireland. It's probably the second most surprising aspect of the night so far.  
  • 20:54

    49 mins: Ireland have started gthe second half with a little more composure on the ball. They win a corner and Duffy heads it straight at Hennessy.  


    Wales 3 Ireland 0

  • 20:56
    Yellow card: Clark for a foul on Bale.  
  • 20:58

    53 mins: A rare Irish counter-attack in Cardiff this evening is broken up by Ampadu.  


    Wales 3 Ireland 0

  • 20:59
    GOAL: Wales
  • 21:01

    55 mins: Roberts with a magnificent strike, Bale with a gorgeous clipped ball across the box and the young defender smashes the ball home brilliantly.  


    Wales 4 Ireland 0

  • 21:02

    57 mins: Bale nearly grabs a fifth but his chip clears the crossbar.


    Wales 4 Ireland 0  

  • 21:03
    Stephen Young talented English born players, opting to play for Wales. But similar players have no interest in playing for us. How are we going to improve this team?
  • 21:05

    59 mins: That's a fair question. Ireland do have an extensive injury list but it's like watching two teams play different sports in Cardiff tonight. Wales are all movement, purpose and energy, Ireland laboured and tentative in comparison.  


    Enda Stevens is on for Ward, winning his 50th cap, who jarred his knee.  


    Wales 4 Ireland 0

  • 21:07

    62 mins: Ampadu to Bale, who thumps it into the roof of the net but it's flagged for an offside against the Real Madrid man.  


    This really could be any score.


    Wales 4 Ireland 0

  • 21:07
  • 21:08

    64 mins: The Oles have started from the Welsh supporters as they stroke the ball around.  


    Wales 4 Ireland 0

  • 21:10
    65 mins: Wales continue to ping the ball around and Ireland are left chasing red shirted sprites.  
  • 21:11
    GOAL: Ireland  
  • 21:13

    66 mins: Shaun Williams pulls a goal back. Ramsay dilly-dallied on the ball just outside the Welsh area, Williams nicked the ball from him and showed superb composure to dink the ball over the onrushing Hennessy as the Welsh keeper went to ground.  


    Wales 4 Ireland 1

  • 21:13
    Jimbo Giovanni Trapattoni is likely having a little chuckle to himself at this shambles.
  • 21:13
  • 21:14
  • 21:16

    71 mins: Ampadu gets a deserved ovation. He has been superb and belied the fact that he is just 17-years-of-age. It might be overstating things a tad to say that his father Kwame, who won four Ireland Under-21 caps from 1989-1992 would have mixed feelings tonight. He'll be very proud of his son and rightly so.  


    Wales 4 Ireland 1

  • 21:18
    Wales have dropped the tempo a little, which is good news for Ireland.  
  • 21:19
    73 mins: Tyler Roberts on for Bale, the former on debut.  
  • 21:22

    76 mins: The Welsh, having had a little rest, are now playing with the rhythm they have demonstrared for most of the night. They force Randolph into a comfortable save.  


    Daryl Horgan on for Robinson in the Ireland team.  


    Wales 4 Ireland 1

  • 21:24

    78 mins: Wales cut through again and Randolph does superbly to deny Tyler Roberts a goal on his debut. The Irish defence looks panic-stricken every time a Welsh player drives into the box.    


    Wales 4 Ireland 1

  • 21:26

    80 mins: Ireland are looking increasingly ragged. There is very little communication as Ramsay pickpockets Duffy who remained oblivious to the Welsh player closing him down from behind. Newcastle's Paul Dummett on for the excellent Davies; the latter was superb.  



    Wales 4 Ireland 1

  • 21:29

    84 mins: Ireland captain, Seamus Coleman, has been honest in his endeavour perhaps more than any player on his team in the second half. Welsh supporters singing the national anthem with arms raised. They give themselves a round of applause too.  



    Wales 4 Ireland 1

  • 21:32

    86 mins: Brilliant tackle by Enda Stevens prevents Brooks from adding a fifth for Wales. It's been so easy for Wales to cut through the Irish defence.  


    Wales 4 Ireland 1

  • 21:34
    The Wales fans chant: 'Keano, Keano what's the score.'  
  • 21:35
    90 mins: Wales controlling the final moments of the game to go with the fact that they have been in the ascendancy from the opening whistle.  
  • 21:35
    Kevin The night going so badly for ireland they go from 4-1 down to 4-0 on 78 minutes. Error rectified before anyone noticed?
  • 21:36
    As Arsene Wenger might say: 'Kevin, I can neither confirm nor deny that.'  
  • 21:36
    Five minutes added time.  
  • 21:37

    93 mins: Wales play keep ball. Hopefully they won't show any more adventure.  


    Wales 4 Ireland 1

  • 21:39
    Full-time: Wales 4 Ireland 1
  • 21:42
    Giggs salutes the supporters and they reciprocate, a stunning performance in the former Utd player's first home match in charge of Wales. It will wash away the taste of last year's defeat to Ireland.  
  • 21:43
    Ireland were outclassed by a young Welsh side that played some excellent football but three of the four goals that Ireland conceded were down to some really poor defending.  
  • 21:44
    Giggs becomes the first Welsh manager to beat a Republic of Ireland team in a competitive match.  
  • 21:45
    It's difficult to know what Martin O'Neill can say after a performance like that. He was short the guts of a team through injuries and defections but the abject nature of some of Ireland's defending is a massive concern. That's nine goals conceded in their last two competitive matches.  
  • 21:45
    And it's not as if there is anything to recommend the attacking side of the game either.  
  • 21:50
  • 21:50
    Wales had 17 shots, eight on target and scored four goals. Ireland have two shots on target and scored one.  
  • 21:52
    Irish Times soccer correspondent Emmet Malone is going to try and make some sense of what he has witnessed in Cardiff tonight. His report will be up here soon.  
  • 21:52
  • 22:00
    Giggs' philosophy: "(It's about) trusting each other with the ball and encouraging players to express themselves." He's a proud Welshman tonight.