On a famous night, there was only one person for man-of-the-match…
DARREN RANDOLPH: Recovered from a nervy start and flummoxed Simone Zaza with a neat turn under pressure in the first half. Was beaten by a strike from Lorenzo Insigne but it came back off a post. 6
SEAMUS COLEMAN: Didn’t get much joy down the flanks in the first half. Should perhaps have done better when a loose ball fell to him in the area in a second half in which he made some decent runs but offered no end product. 6
73: Ireland Captain Seamus Coleman battles for possession as the Fields of Athenry rings around the stadium..#COYBIG pic.twitter.com/Y9XQUTy6yw
— FAIreland (@FAIreland) June 22, 2016
SHANE DUFFY: Did well in the air against Italy’s forwards and sent a header over the crossbar in the second half. Was a nuisance in the opposition penalty area and solid in his own penalty box. 7
Brilliant Ireland through. @ShaneDuffy34 superb on his major tournament debut. Did #rovers proud. pic.twitter.com/4IGVEdlAIU
— Paul Wheelock (@PaulWheelock) June 22, 2016
RICHARD KEOGH: Had little to do in the first half but made some important clearances in the second half. 6
Superb @ShaneLong7 @RichardKeogh_6 absolutely superb! #IRL #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/z3EodXcngi
— Fun Jicey (@funjicey) June 22, 2016
STEPHEN WARD: Was solid defensively but inconsistent with his crossing at the other end of the pitch. Ward was booked in the second half for a robust challenge. 6
Grand total of ONE #IRL player who started vs #ITA at #EURO2012 in tonight's XI. That man is Stephen #Ward. #ITAIRL pic.twitter.com/5YKQfc0LyO
— Mark Lomas (@marklomasSport) June 22, 2016
JEFF HENDRICK: Another decent display by the Derby midfielder. Hendrick was inches away with a superb long-range effort in the first half and produced some nice solo runs and neat passing throughout. 7
JAMES MCCLEAN: Was a threat going forward, making some strong runs. Closed down well and ran all night for the cause. Felt he should have had a first-half penalty. 8
JAMES MCCARTHY: Broke up play well and his distribution was simple yet effective. Had a quiet second half and was taken off for Wes Hoolahan as Martin O’Neill threw caution to the wind. 6
Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy!😍👏💙 pic.twitter.com/SDw2wzyhBq
— Molly Harrison (@MollyOHarrison) June 22, 2016
ROBBIE BRADY: Man of the match. Martin O’Neill spoke about the importance of set-pieces and his corners and free-kicks were good. Ran all night and popped up in the box to score a superb header. 9
SHANE LONG: Was a nuisance all night. Didn’t have a sniff at goal but linked up well with Brady. Booked for a scuffle with goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu and won some brave headers in the second half. 6
DARYL MURPHY: Won his fair share of headers and held the ball up well at times. Saw a powerful header from a corner tipped over in the first half but was quiet in the second. 6
Subs:
AIDEN MCGEADY (for Murphy, 70 mins): Fired well over with one sight on goal and sent a header straight at the goalkeeper. 6
WES HOOLAHAN (for McCarthy, 77 mins): Was presented with a clear chance to score but fired straight at the goalkeeper, but made up for it with a superb cross for Brady’s goal. 6
STEPHEN QUINN (for Long, 90 mins): N/A
