Ireland need a goal.
Things are going badly. A one-goal lead from the start of the game never looked convincing and, in the space of seven second half minutes, it’s all inevitably undone.
So Martin O’Neill reacts. And his instincts are spot on.
A lot of things can change in five minutes though and a lot of attitudes were certainly altered on Monday night.
Before the game in Serbia, Daryl Murphy’s international record read like this:
9 years
22 games
0 goals
Granted, there was a six-year hiatus in there but those are the facts and the sight of the big Waterford man coming on to rescue the ship didn’t inspire a lot of confidence.
Especially when he was replacing the goalscorer.
lol yeah, bring on the guy who can't score
— Jack (@IrishJack26) September 5, 2016
Times were tense and his club record stood for nothing – not to impatient fans on Monday evening as Ireland trailed in Belgrade.
#PostYourMurphyDoubts pic.twitter.com/KxgZzoorGv
— Conán Doherty (@ConanDoherty) September 5, 2016
So poor Murphy felt the brunt of it as he was brought on for the last 15 minutes.
Far too many people were knocking him before he even got his flick on to set up a glorious Shane Long chance.
2-1 down and they bring on Daryl Murphy 🙈🙈🙈 better off putting John o shea up front #srbvirl #COYBIG #ireland
— David Field (@field1985) September 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/GunnerAB10/status/772892154083545089
Bad state of affairs when you bring on Daryl Murphy to find an equaliser 🙈 please score Daryl now that I've slagged you off #COYBIG
— Chris Morrow (@ChrisMorrow44) September 5, 2016
Why Daryl Murphy??? He's never scored for Ireland
— Cian Stafford (@stafford_cian) September 5, 2016
This is as bad as I've seen Ireland play in years. How is Whelan still on? Why take Hendrick off? Sorry but Daryl Murphy is not good enough.
— Eoin (@E_0_R) September 5, 2016
The manager was to blame more than the player.
Daryl Murphy on for Hendrick. And Quinn on. O'Neill makes the worst subs
— Chris McMenamy (@cmcmenamy95) September 5, 2016
Then he literally went from zero to hero.
https://twitter.com/dylan_fox96/status/772893380787466241
And Newcastle fans loved it.
https://twitter.com/NUFCPulse/status/772894035929341953
No sooner had Daryl Murphy become a #NUFC player, he scores his first international goal.
All those years wasted at Sunderland #SAFC
— Himanshu Dhingra (@HD_07) September 5, 2016
Daryl Murphy scores his first international goal. Not a coincidence after signing for #NUFC
— Sam Carter (@NUFCarter) September 5, 2016
If Daryl Murphy scores 15 headers like that this season I'll be happy
— Simon in San Diego (@SimonInSD) September 5, 2016
We always knew what he could do.
been there done that!! pic.twitter.com/FjTvin0qkO
— Doyler (@AnonymousSean88) September 5, 2016
The GAA Hour Hurling Show relives Tipperary’s sensational All-Ireland victory with Paidí Maher. Listen below or subscribe on iTunes.
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