Irish media react to Dara O’Shea and Jayson Molumby displays as West Brom duo play full match v Latvia
West Brom duo Dara O’Shea and Jayson Molumby both played the entire 90 minutes for the Republic of Ireland in their victory over Latvia on Wednesday (22 March).
The Albion pair were among just a handful of players to play the full game for the hosts, with Ireland winning the friendly encounter 3-2 in Dublin.
The Irish media have since reacted to the performances of the two West Brom players, with both O’Shea and Molumby hoping they did enough to ensure a starting role in the Euro 2024 qualifier against France on Monday (27 March).
According to the Irish Mirror, Molumby played a “key role” in his side’s opening goal and “put himself about with a highly energetic display,” while O’Shea collided with Callum O’Dowda before Latvia’s second goal but was “cool and calm otherwise.”
RTE meanwhile was full of praise for defender O’Shea who had “very little to do from a defensive point of view,” adding that everything that Latvia did attack with, “O’Shea and the defence handled with ease.”
And the Irish Times recognised Molumby for his important role on the pitch, noting: “As most of the Ireland players made their way over to celebrate with Callum O’Dowda following his goal, Dara O’Shea made a beeline for Molumby, because it was a brilliant ball-winning tackle in the middle of the field by the West Brom man that set Ireland on their way for the goal. He was also involved in the creation of the second goal.”
Kenny’s Kids also highlighted the “positive” display from Molumby in midfield, with Irish Independent Football Correspondent Daniel McDonnell expecting the West Brom man to get a start against France after his performance.
Reliable duo
O’Shea and Molumby were just two of four outfield Ireland players to play the entire match, with manager Stephen Kenny seemingly keen to get an exact view of their current status ahead of a huge game against France.
The pair performed admirably in Dublin, although defender O’Shea will be disappointed to have conceded twice, especially on home soil.
Nonetheless, he and West Brom teammate Molumby look set to retain their places in the starting XI for the meeting with the World Cup finalists, with both young players fitting well within Kenny’s system.
The manager has shown time and again that he will put faith in youth, with O’Shea (24) and Molumby (23) both in that bracket.
They have an unenviable task trying to keep the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann at bay in their next match, but it will be a superb moment for the Albio duo to come up against such world-class players.
In other West Brom news, one Albion player has stunned his international teammate with what he did in training.