Granted, there wasn't quite the same buzz or spring in the step down the players' tunnel at Lansdowne Road last night as there was after those three World Cup qualifying points were collected from Estonia last month. Still, if you tried telling Steve Finnan there was nothing special about the occasion he'd have given you a withering look.

Mercifully there were no calls for a manual recount of the vote which gave Mark Kinsella the man of the match award, to cap his debut as captain of his country, but Mick McCarthy did raise one quizzical eyebrow on hearing the news to suggest Finnan might have done enough to pip the Charlton midfielder. It was, though, he conceded, too close too call.

So, did his manager heap praise on him at full time? "Well, he told us all we were brilliant," said Finnan, who marked his sixth international appearance with the first of Ireland's three goals. "To be honest I was probably more relieved than anything, because I missed an easier chance on my debut against Greece. It was a great ball from Mark, though, and I hadn't too much to do, the keeper came off his line." You must know the goalkeeper from the English First Division? Blank look. "Who does he play for?" Bolton. "Bolton? Oh yeah, now you mention it. Yeah, we played against them earlier in the season and won 2-0." Did you score? "No, that's probably why I don't remember him," he grinned.

A friendly game it may have been, but for Finnan its significance lay in the fact that it presented an opportunity to stake his claim for a place in the starting line-up in the remainder of the World Cup Qualifiers.

"There's no shortage of left wingers in the Irish squad but there are fewer rightsided players available to the manager, so after Jason (McAteer) maybe there aren't too many options. To be honest, I was probably more comfortable playing at full back in the second half because that's where I've been playing all season for Fulham, but I would just love to get on the team so, naturally enough, I'd play anywhere."

Shay Given in recent times has found himself behind Alan Kelly in the pecking order for the goalkeeper's jersey.

"It was particularly disappointing to not even make the bench in Holland (when Dean Kiely was chosen ahead of him) so it made it especially pleasing to get a chance tonight. Mick has told me Alan is still number one choice, but he has his problems at club level so who knows what might happen before the next qualifier."

Also glad for the extra opportunity to impress, though under more pressure than most to get a place next time out, was Matt Holland. Solid and steady, he feels the team as a whole did all that they set out to do.

"To be honest I thought we all played reasonably well. Finland are definitely a decent team and passed the ball around very well. They gave England problems the last day and we knew it was going to be a difficult match. But once we got the tempo up we managed to get three goals and we have to be happy with that.

"Sure they were passing the ball very well, but as an international side they were bound to be. That made it hard for us, but we changed around a little bit and I think that worked."

Still, there was no lack of occasion when Finland could have responded. At least two or three times they came dangerously close - perhaps even robbing a draw. "Sure, but we had missed chances as well. It could have been something like 7-4 in the end. And our three goals were of fantastic standard."