Gibraltar 0-1 Republic of Ireland: Jeff Hendrick strikes to give Mick McCarthy victory on his second debut as manager in bid to reach Euro 2020

Gibraltar 0-1 Republic of Ireland: Jeff Hendrick strikes to give Mick McCarthy victory on his second debut as manager in bid to reach Euro 2020
Jeff Hendrick gave Mick McCarthy a winning start to his second spell in charge as the Republic of Ireland launched their Euro 2020 campaign with a narrow victory in Gibraltar.Hendrick’s first international goal since September 2016 ultimately settled a tight encounter fought out on a plastic pitch in swirling winds at the Victoria Stadium in front of the man who famously led the nation to the 2002 World Cup finals.3

Mick McCarthy got his second reign as Ireland boss off with a win

It was far from pretty on a night when Ireland dominated possession against a team consisting largely of part-time footballers, but created few clear-cut chances.However, they left having banked three Group D points, the minimum requirement heading into Tuesday night’s clash with fast-improving Georgia at the Aviva Stadium.The lack of inspiration which plagued the latter days of Martin O’Neill’s reign remains an issue, and although the difficult conditions had a part to play, McCarthy knows it is a failing which must be addressed if his team are to qualify for the finals.Gibraltar started brightly and saw ambitious appeals for an early penalty waved away after midfielder Liam Walker blasted a shot into a mass of white shirts.3

Richard Keogh turned down hand surgery to play for his country

Keeper Darren Randolph could have been forgiven for being distracted four minutes in when a plane took off from the airport runway just a couple of hundred yards behind his goal.However, it was opposite number Kyle Goldwin who had cause for concern as David McGoldrick sent a seventh-minute volley over the bar, although he was able to get his hands on Richard Keogh’s stabbed effort after Hendrick had fired across the penalty area four minutes later.Shane Duffy only just failed to reach Conor Hourihane’s 15th-minute free-kick as Ireland started to dominate possession, although McCarthy on the sidelines could be heard repeatedly urging his players to move the ball more quickly.They would have taken the lead in fortuitous circumstances with 28 minutes gone had it not been for Goldwin’s excellent reactions.3

Jeff Hendrick celebrates with the travelling fans at the final whistle

Seamus Coleman made the most of the space he and Matt Doherty were being afforded down the right to send in a driven cross which defender Roy Chipolina could only head towards his own goal, prompting the keeper to instinctively throw out a hand and somehow turn the ball over the crossbar.Ireland were struggling to find space in the final third, but they did just that five minutes before the break when Sean Maguire laid the ball into Coleman’s path and his low cross was just about smuggled away before McGoldrick could pounce.However, as the half-time whistle sounded, Goldwin remained unbeaten and Irish frustration unbroken.Indeed, it might have grown significantly within seconds of the restart when Chipolina powered a header towards goal from Walker’s corner and Randolph reacted smartly to repel his effort.

Jeff Hendrick strokes the ball home after a nice move from @FAIrelandCool finish from the @BurnleyOfficial man pic.twitter.com/I5BwVAlwmP— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) March 23, 2019

The Republic’s nerves were settled just three minutes later when Hourihane played McGoldrick into space down the left and he cut into the penalty area before looking up and rolling the ball into the path of the fast-arriving Hendrick, who swept his first-time shot inside the far post.Ireland were considerably more composed as they set about the task of cementing their lead with Robbie Brady added to the mix in place of Doherty, although their advantage might have disappeared with 64 minutes gone when Lee Casciaro curled a shot across Randolph but just wide of the far post.Randolph was pleased to see Keogh, playing with a lightweight cast on his broken right hand, take the sting out of Walker’s 75th-minute drive and Ireland saw out time with few real scares.

---

Arsenal news: Rob Holding out for up to nine months with ruptured ACL, club confirm. Holding was taken off on a stretcher during the first-half of Arsenal's 2-2 draw with Manchester United
Premier League: Arsenal's Rob Holding set for surgery on

---

Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 Liverpool: Tony Cascarino 'hates

---

Thibaut Courtois has snubbed a potential move to Manchester United this summer in a swap deal with Real Madrid transfer target David de Gea, according to reports. Real Madrid have held interest in
David de Gea has lost his form for Man Utd but Real Madrid

---

Mohamed Salah injury update: Liverpool striker is OUT of Barcelona game, Jurgen Klopp confirms Salah was taken off on a stretcher during the win against Newcastle United By Joe Coleman
Liverpool fitness update: Which players could miss the

---

Don't miss All the information you need to catch the Premier League clash Fulham face a must win game against Leicester today if they are to have any hope of beating the drop. The Premier League clash at the King Power is live on talkSPORT 2 this afternoon as

---

Brahim Diaz 'close' to completing Real Madrid move with shock

---

Championship New Year's Day results: Promotion chasing Leeds

---

Transfer news: Tottenham and Arsenal eyeing Borussia Monchengladbach defender Matthias Ginter The Germany international has been on Spurs' radar before, while the Gunners need defensive reinforcements
Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur eyeing international centre

---

Ravel Morrison has revealed he held talks with Rangers and Championship clubs before joining Ostersund. Despite being impressed by Rangers boss Steven Gerrard, the former Manchester United wonderkid signed a short-term deal with the Swedish minnows to "rebuild" his career.
Former Manchester United wonderkid Ravel Morrison scores

---

Cam Neely's reaction was every Bruins fan after a late no-call led to a Blues Craig Kimbrel signing indicates Cubs are all in on another Blues beat Bruins 2-1 to take 3-2 series
Subscribe to Read Articles from August 1963 Part 4 - Site Map

---

Champions League outright winner odds: Manchester United shorter odds than Liverpool, Juventus and Tottenham Hotspur to lift trophy and Liverpool in the betting to win the Champions League
UEFA Champions League : Who are the favorites to win this

---

• Fixtures to be played on Thursday alongside Europa League. There will be a third European club competition from 2021, Uefa has announced. President Aleksander Ceferin said a "widespread demand" for participation at European level had led to the formation of the new tournament, which will sit under the Champions and Europa Leagues.
'Europa League 2': Uefa confirms new tournament from 2021

---

Everton news: Tom Davies says set-piece defending is 'not good enough' and players are working to fix it No Premier League club has conceded more goals from set-pieces than the Toffees this season
'Not good enough': Tom Davies urges his Everton team-mates to

---

Kick It Out apologise to Brighton over Chris Hughton sacking

---