Stephen Kenny's first game at the Aviva Stadium, for Ireland, ended in a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Finland.
Kenny made three changes from Thursday's 1-1 draw with Bulgaria in Sofia to try and inject some energy into the team. Jayson Molumby, Robbie Brady and Harry Arter all started the game but failed to provide the creative spark necessary to create many clear chances of note.
Despite the result, there were some positives that can be taken into next month's crunch clash with Slovakia.
While Finland did not press with much intensity there are clear signs that Kenny's idea of playing possession-based football will improve in the coming months.
Check out the player ratings below from a difficult night in Dublin.
23. Darren Randolph: 8
Asked to develop play from the back, Randolph did give away one early loose ball while beginning play. Despite this early lapse, Ireland's most consistent player over the past years did what he does best, making a couple of excellent saves.
The West Ham United goalkeeper denied Teemu Pukki on two occasions, the first an excellent stop with his legs in a one on one situation. There was little Randolph could do about the goal and he will be disappointed not to have kept a clean sheet on Sunday.
7. Matt Doherty: 6
The Tottenham full-back had very little to do in the first half but on the occasions when Finland attempted to break he provided protection for his two centre-halves. Unfortunately, for the second game in a row, Doherty, who has been magnificent at marauding forward at club level, was unable to affect the game in the final third.
On two occasions he gave away possession in the final minutes when tired legs and minds began to take hold.
4. Shane Duffy: 6
For the most part, Duffy and fellow centre-half John Egan marshalled Pukki well and dealt with most of the aerial threat that Finland posed. The Derryman grew in stature during the game and like his goalkeeper will be disappointed with the way Ireland conceded.
He almost repeated Thursday's heroics late in the game and will be kicking himself for not hitting the target from Robbie Brady's late corner kick.
5. John Egan: 6
Like Duffy, Egan will be very disappointed with the goal that Finland scored but otherwise he defended well when called upon. The Sheffield United man was strong in the air but could have been tighter to Robert Taylor to cut out the cross that led to the goal.
3. Enda Stephens: 6
Stephens began the game brightly and managed to push forward on more occasions than Doherty. He linked up well with Aaron Connolly in the first-half but his influence waned as the game progressed. Stephen's was assured in possession and except for one occasion in the first-half, his positional sense was spot on.
He was very effective when forced to defend one-on-one
Like Doherty, he would have liked to push forward more as the game progressed and this will be something that Kenny will look to improve on before Slovakia.
15. Callum O'Dowda: 6
Arguably Ireland's brightest performance in Bulgaria, O'Dowda began the game at the Aviva extremely positively. He attacked the full-back when given the opportunity and was unlucky that nobody got on the end of a sharp cutback following great work out wide.
O'Dowda was replaced on the hour mark by Callum Robinson but there are plenty of positives to take from his performance especially the consistent energy and willingness to try and create chances when given the ball.
22. Jayson Molumby: 6
Industrious, as you would expect from the Brighton midfielder. He added a bite to Ireland's midfield that is not always present, despite being booked for a late challenge.
When in possession, Molumby kept the ball ticking over but did not manage to find any incisive passes that led to chances.
Moving forward, the Brighton midfielder will hope to get into the box on more occasions but as far as senior debuts go this was a positive and there will certainly be more to come from Molumby in future.
20. Harry Arter: 5
Tasked with getting on the ball and helping Ireland build through the middle of the park, Arter struggled to have any real influence on the game aside from an early dig from distance. In the final moments of the game, he did go close with a fine curling effort but otherwise, Arter was quiet.
10. Robbie Brady: 7
After a number of difficult years with injuries, it was great to see Brady in a starting line-up for the international side. He started the game brightly with two early wicked balls into the box in the opening phase of the game. Kenny's side looked assured in possession throughout the game without creating anything of note.
Brady did attempt to quicken the tempo when on the ball and linked well with Connolly early in the first half. He also won the ball back from Finland late to set Ireland on the counter-attack that led to Connolly's shot on goal.
The Burnley midfielder's energy levels dropped late in the game but he was a threat from set-pieces as always and put a number of decent deliveries into the box.
17. Aaron Connolly: 6
Connolly's industry, aggression and willingness to run is so admirable and on another day the Brighton forward may have been rewarded for his work. Connolly constantly occupies defenders by running in behind and worked well on the left-hand side with both Stephens and Brady early.
He was presented with arguably the best chance of the game for the home side and despite doing well to get a shot off was unable to hit the target. Connolly was unfortunate to connect with Callum Robinson's cross late on.
Still, a bright performance and he will undoubtedly improve with time and further games under his belt.
Adam Idah: 6
Much like Thursday's game against Bulgaria, there are definitely signs that Idah will be an excellent forward for Ireland in the years to come. He is strong, is confident receiving the ball into feet and linked up well with Connolly for the latter's chance in the second half.
Unfortunately, Idah was starved for quality service and this led to a couple of wayward touches when the ball did land at his feet. That being said there are certainly positives to take from this performance and like Connolly, Idah will build on these early two caps moving forward.
Substitutions.
Callum Robinson: Ireland's first substitution had an immediate effect, cleverly letting the ball roll past his body before hitting an admittedly wayward strike well over. Robinson delivered an excellent ball into the box that should have been converted.
David McGoldrick: McGoldrick is only back from an injury so, understandably, improving his match fitness is the priority. Had little chances of note other than a sniff early that was blocked excellently before the Sheffield United striker could set himself.
James McClean: Worked hard upon his introduction and tried to offer a different route to goal with some whipped crosses.
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