Euro 2016, Ireland is ready for you.
While the Irish rugby team came up short at the Stade de France, across the channel in England, our footballers were displaying form that bodes well for when Irish fans return to the French capital in June.
Robbie Brady, Wes Hoolahan and Shane Long all found the net, while Jon Walters set up Ibrahim Afellay’s strike for Stoke City.
Brady’s goal was the pick of the bunch. The Dubliner gave Norwich City the lead with a thunderous strike, with his weaker right foot, that crashed in off the cross bar.
PHOTO Robbie Brady celebrates putting Norwich into the lead, firing in off the crossbar. It's 2-0 (71 mins) #NORWHU pic.twitter.com/mhzA9GpqK4
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 13, 2016
Hoolahan doubled the Canaries lead 10 minutes later, a neat finish after the ball landed to him in the West Ham penalty area. However, Norwich squandered their advantage, with Dimitri Payet and Mark Noble scoring for the Hammers.
Meanwhile, over in Wales, Shane Long scored the decisive goal as Southampton earned a hard fought win over Swansea City. The striker found space in the penalty area, and headed home James Ward-Prowse’s cross after 69 minutes.
PHOTO @ShaneLong7 heads in his 6th #BPL goal of the season and give Saints the lead. It's 0-1 (80 mins) #SWASOU pic.twitter.com/mXfbtD7MLW
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 13, 2016
While, during Stoke’s 3-1 win away to Bournemouth, Walters set up Afellay to put the Potters 2-0 up, with Glenn Whelan also involved in the goal.
Martin O’Neill will rest easy tonight.
GOAL Bournemouth 0-2 Stoke (52 mins). Ibrahim Afellay ends a flowing counter with a smart finish after being teed up by Jon Walters #BOUSTK
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 13, 2016
https://twitter.com/KallumCane/status/698539828074450944
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