Robbie Brady's injury could have been a lot worse - luckily a Georgia defender was quick to intervene.
There were plenty of worrying moments for the Republic of Ireland in their World Cup qualifier match at home to Georgia last night, not least when the Georgians hit the woodwork twice in quick succession in the first half. But when Robbie Brady went down after a nasty clash of heads with Georgia defender Solomon Kverkvelia there were many worried faces around the Aviva stadium.
Sport is very important to all of us but that importance is irrelevant compared to the safety of its practitioners - and Georgian captain Guram Kashia clearly recognised that when Brady went down, helping Jonathan Walters and James McClean put Brady in the recovery position in order to prevent the Norwich man swallowing his tongue and put him in the best possible position ahead of the arrival of the team doctor.
The FAI tweeted that Brady was in good health in the aftermath of Thursday night's game.
Robbie Brady is conscious in the dressing room. The medical team are taking every precaution possible. Thank you for your messages. #COYBIG
— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) October 6, 2016
Brady was stretchered off after the incident and is understood to have spent the night in hospital as a precaution. He is expected to miss Sunday's away fixture against Moldova but is otherwise in good health.
Aside from the scare regarding Brady, it was a mixed bag for the Republic of Ireland - a slightly disjointed performance but nevertheless one that resulted in three points, captain Seamus Coleman's driving run from right-back leading to a scrambling goal from the Donegal man.
The Republic drew 1-1 away to Serbia in their opening World Cup qualifier game and lie in joint fourth place in Group D.
