Damien Delaney won the first international cap of his career tonight as Ireland drew 1-1 at home to Serbia.
The cap is reward for an impressive start to life at QPR from Delaney and he certainly did his chances of further recognition no harm at all with a solid display at left full back. He was just about the most impressive Irishman on display in a poor display by the home side, although he did look to be at least partially at fault for the Serbia goal, staying back as his team mates pushed up to play offside.
The game was Giovanni Trapattoni’s first senior international as Ireland manager and also featured former QPR man Stephen Kelly in the opposite full back position.
Martin Rowlands missed out with an ankle injury picked up in training last week – QPR nervously await the results of scans on the injury. Rowlands was certainly missed with Liam Miller and Glenn Whelen both very, very poor in the middle of midfield.
After a lacklustre performance the Irish were somewhat fortunate to escape with a draw thanks to an injury time equaliser from substitute Andy Keogh. After scoring in both warm up games in Portugal last week as well the Wolves man certainly seems to be benefiting more than most from Trapattoni’s appointment.
The Irish face Columbia on Thursday night before breaking for the summer – R’s fans wanting to see Damo in action for his country needn’t travel far as the game is taking place at Craven Cottage. That game is also live on Sky Sports 1 from 8pm.
Elsewhere Simon Walton didn’t even make the bench for Delaney’s former club Hull as they won promotion to the Premiership with a 1-0 victory against Bristol City in the play off final at Wembley. Walton will now return to Loftus Road at the end of his loan spell during which time he started five games and made another five appearances as a sub.
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