McGoldrick Impresses in Ireland Friendly - Ipswich Town News

David McGoldrick played the first 76 minutes as the Republic of Ireland drew 1-1 with Holland in a friendly at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin this evening, while fellow Blues striker Daryl Murphy was an unused sub.

McGoldrick impressed as he won his third cap and it was his cross-field pass which led to the corner from which Shane Long scored Ireland’s goal on the half hour. Luuk De Jong equalised for the Dutch with five minutes remaining.

Whether the 28-year-old has done enough to made manager Martin O’Neill’s 23-man squad for the European Championships in France remains to be seen but the boss was impressed with the Town frontman's display in a deeper role at the tip of a midfield diamond.

"The idea tonight was [to field] a mixture of players who are certain and others who feel every minute on the pitch is important,” O’Neill said.

"David’s only got in at the back end of the season due to injury. David can offer something that we don’t have in the side at the moment.

"It’s as much to do with the fitness level and the amount of games that he hasn’t played.

"But again, I’m hoping he’ll be around for some time if he stays injury-free, which he hasn’t been able to do in the past couple of years properly for a real long six-month run. That fitness level he’s attempting to achieve will stand him in good stead.”

Murphy, who has previously won 20 caps, is thought the more likely of the two to make the travelling party.

O'Neill, whose assistant is ex-Town boss Roy Keane, had planned to name his final squad after tonight's match, although he now expects to wait until after next Tuesday’s friendly against Belarus at Cork City's Turner's Cross, when Murphy will start, close to the 11pm deadline that evening.

Republic of Ireland: Randolph, Coleman, O’Shea, Duffy, Brady, Arter (O’Kane 82), Whelan (Gibson 67), Quinn (Hendrick 67), McGoldrick (Hoolahan 76), Walters, Long (McClean 67).

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