Ireland have defeated Wales. We suffocated them, bloodied them, broke their will, ripped out their leek-soaked soul and hung on for dear life. James McClean's goal takes the place beside goals by McAteer, Long, Brady and Keane. Much will be made of Hendrick's dispossession of Ash Williams and his tiptoe down the sideline, of Arter's ingenious dummy, of McClean's deft finish on his bad foot, and while all brilliant in their own right, we must celebrate Daryl Murphy's incredible role in making the goal happen.
Let's break it down, frame by frame, starting when the ball is arriving at McClean's feet.
Check out Murphy's positioning here: he seems to be directly in McClean's way. But he is also totally shielding Chris Gunter, the Welsh right back, who cannot see the ball.
Here's the view from behind the goal as McClean hits it. Murphy is in a seemingly terrible position, back to goal, moving in the direction of the path of the ball.
When the ball clears Murphy and Chester, the passageway for the shot is incredibly narrow. Murphy somehow avoids deflecting the ball but his presence completely bamboozles Chester and Gunter behind him, while throwing off Hennessy in the goals.
An instant later, back of the net.
James McClean, you absolute dancer. How about that step over from Harry Arter?!? #WALIRL #RTEsoccer pic.twitter.com/75hDzigE9L
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) October 9, 2017
Daryl Murphy, often a bit player in Ireland squads down through the years, proved his mettle this campaign and over the last 5 days has become one of the most important players in the Ireland XI. While James McClean gets the plaudits tonight, we should remember Big Murph's contribution to the goal long into the future.
