Ireland gain a draw

In a game where Ireland were playing so few recognisable players it was meant as nothing more than a meaningless end of season friendly. Ireland didn't look out of their depth going forward but were dodgy at the back. In the 13th minute Ecuador took the lead through striker Cristian Benitez, who raced through easily to beat Birmingham keeper Colin Doyle after beating the Irish offside trap.


Kevin Doyle got his third goal in eight senior Republic of Ireland appearances to give Ireland a deserved draw against Ecuador at New York's Giants Stadium on Wednesday night. The Reading striker threw his head through the air to meet Daryl Murphy's excellent cross with a diving header. The first half was very open and both teams had chances to score after Ecuador's early goal. Kevin Doyle hit the post after good work from Stephen O'Halloran and Murphy heading over before Benitez got the better of Alex Bruce only to screw his shot wide of the post. Doyle levelled in the final minute of the first half and Ireland could have gone into the break in front only for Keogh's effort to be cleared off the line by the frantic Ecuadorian defence.

Alan Bennett the former Cork City full back who has yet to make a first-team appearance for Reading came close to a debut goal in the second half with a header from Stephen Hunt's corner. There were no chances in the game after that.

Staunton handed out 11 senior debuts on the night and seven of them started. Doyle, Alex Bruce, Alan Bennett and Stephen O'Halloran in the defense. The terrific Darren Potter and Wolves striker Andy Keogh played in midfield whiles Daryll Murphy got the nod with Doyle up front.

Other new caps from the bench were Wolves teenager Stephen Gleeson and Notre Dame University amateur Joe Lapira. Arsenal defender Joe O'Cearuill and Cork City's Joe Gamble got their first senior caps. Laipira the best player on the American collegiate scene last year but he has not taken up an opportunity to turn Professional yet.

Republic of Ireland: Colin Doyle (Birmingham City) Stephen Kelly (Birmingham City), Alex Bruce (Ipswich Town), Alan Bennett (Reading), Stephen O'Halloran (Aston Villa) - Andy Keogh (Wolves), Darren Potter (Wolves), Kevin Kilbane (Wigan Athletic) Stephen Hunt (Reading) - Kevin Doyle (Reading), Daryl Murphy (Sunderland). Subs: Shane Long (Reading) for Doyle (60 mins); Joe Gamble (Cork City) for Keogh (69 mins); Anthony Stokes (Sunderland) for Hunt (69 mins); Joe O'Cearuill (Arsenal) for O'Halloran (73 mins); Stephen Gleeson (Wolves) for Kilbane (79 mins); Joe Lapira (University of Notre Dame) for Murphy (83 mins).