Steve Finnan of Fulham has scored his first goal for the Republic of Ireland.
He took the opportunity in the 14th minute of his first start for the Republic by scoring a classy goal. He ran on to a cross field ball tapping it past a Finnish defender and slotting it past the Keeper.
Cockney Irishman Steve Finnan is now in Republic manager Mick McCarthy's World Cup
plans after a stunning goal and a virtuoso display in the 3-0 friendly win over
Finland at Lansdowne Road.
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Steve Finnan stars in the 3-0 defeat of Finland by Eire |
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The Fulham full-back, whose parents come from Limerick but raised him in London
where he became an Arsenal fan, was warned by manager Mick McCarthy before the
Dublin clash - only his fifth appearance for Ireland - that it would take a
giant performance to stake a claim for the next Group Two qualifier against
Cyprus in March.
But that is just what he produced against the luckless Finns despite playing
out of position as a wide midfielder and McCarthy said: "Steve's got chances
now because there is some way to go until March and anything can happen.
"For a variety of reasons, mostly injuries, I had to make five changes in the
side which got us five World Cup points against Holland and Portugal and Estonia.
"And I the lads who came in knew my first-choice team was still the same. But
Steve did himself a power of good out there. He's not a winger in the same mould
as Kevin Kilbane who can go past people and get a cross in, but I love his ability,
his energy and his willingness to tackle back and get a foot in. "You always
want as many options as you can get. And there's nothing better to motivate
a player than somebody else playing well in his position.
"Mark Kinsella was picked as man of the match against Finland but without taking
anything away from Mark, I think Steve must have pushed him very close for that
award."
Finnan said: "The World Cup team has virtually picked itself with the three
performances so far and the rest of us know there are not many chances to stake
a claim. "But hopefully I've made an impression now and I'm looking forward
to seeing if I'm picked for the next friendly against Denmark in February. "I
was delighted with the goal, of course, and it is obviously one of the most
important I've scored. At Fulham I'm normally a full back but pushing forward
is something I enjoy and I was lucky to get a great through-pass from Mark Kinsella
for the goal."
Finnan, winning only his fifth cap but projected into the Republic picture by
his consistent contribution to Fulham's surge to the top of the Nationwide League
first division, modestly did not mention the silky touch that took Kinsella's
pass beyond the lunge of Finland's goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen to leave an
open goal in the 14th minute.
And it was a standard of excellence he rarely allowed to drop throughout the
90 minutes.