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Ireland draw with Bolivia in Boston

Saturday 26th May 2007, 11:20 pm

Shane Long, Ireland.

Photo by Tom Carey.

While Wednesday night's game in New York saw plenty of highlights for Steve Staunton and his Irish side, tonight's 1-1 draw with Bolivia in Boston produced very little to write home about as the international season drew to an end for his team.

Bolivia set the early pace in the game with a number of long range attempts, two of which forced goalkeeper Nicky Colgan to at least catch. Garcia almost nipped in at the back post as Ireland continued on the defensive.

However, the lively Anthony Stokes pounced on some loose Bolivian possession and after combining with Shane Long, the Sunderland striker chipped narrowly just over the Bolivian bar.

Long then got in after outmuscling a defender but fired straight at the keeper. He did better on 12 minutes after Alan O'Brien delivered a pin-point cross from the left. Long got in and got his header on target as Suarez in goal flapped at and only guided it in to give Ireland the lead.

The lead lasted only two minutes though as inexperience was exposed in the Irish defence. Moreno tore through the Irish defence before playing in Arce and after his shot hit the post, Ireland struggled to clear. After eventually getting the ball out of the box, Bolivia sent it back in and Hoyos powered into the box before lashing a shot across Colgan to the back of the net to make it 1-1.

Ireland were struggling somewhat as a number of the team turned in anonymous performances and they will do well to ever be involved in an Irish squad again.

Reyes headed wide from a corner before Ireland got back on the offensive on twenty minutes. Long just couldn't connect with Kevin Kilbane's cross into the box while a loose ball pinged around in the area.

Stokes retrieved an O'Brien cross he had failed to collect initially before beating a couple of defenders and firing in a shot which needed saving.

Alan Bennett made a good block to snuff out a dangerous Bolivian attack which saw Arce line up a shot. Bennett played every minute of the two games in the US and did very little wrong despite being stuck in Reading's reserves since leaving Cork.

Hoyos fired another effort off target before Ireland almost grabbed the lead again before the break. Mendez almost guided the ball into his own net until Suarez rescued the situation as another O'Brien cross had caused problems.

Colgan saved from Vaca just before the break after the Bolivian had shown quick feet to set himself for a shot.

Ireland made three changes at the break with Kevin Doyle also joining the action within ten minutes of the restart. The inexperienced side struggled in the Boston heat but Daryl Murphy again put in a quality cameo after his arrival.

Murphy flicked a header just off target from Joe O'Cearuill's cross.

Wayne Henderson was another half-time entrant and he saved superbly from Cabrera as the Bolivian broke on goal and attempted to curl the ball home.

Stokes drilled a long shot at goal just before the hour but the keeper saved well at full stretch. Doyle appeared to suffer a knock which limited his effectiveness as the half wore on. He just couldn't rise high enough to connect with Stephen O'Halloran's cross into the box.

O'Halloran did well at the other end too to block as a Bolivian lined up a shot from the edge of the box. Henderson had a lucky escape as a low free kick drifted across the face of his goal, eventually flicking wide at the back post.

Murphy showed a couple of great pieces of skill in the dying moments. His dangerous dribble into the box was eventually snuffed out by a desperate challenge and then his shot was saved a minute later after he again showed a good touch inside the area.

So, Ireland's unbeaten run at senior international level extends to seven games and Irish boss Staunton was able to hand out twelve debuts on this brief US tour. When competitive football resumes after the summer, the Irish squad to sure to be back to a more familiar look but a couple of this week's performances may have at least given Staunton something to think about.

Ireland : Colgan (Henderson 46), O'Cearuill, Bennett, P Murphy (O'Halloran 46), Kelly, Gamble (D Murphy 46), Kilbane (Hunt 66), Potter, O'Brien (Gleeson 78), Stokes, Long (Doyle 54).