Sunderland - 0 Republic of Ireland XI - 3NIALL QUINN TESTIMONIAL/Match Report: Relegation battle fatigue may have taken its toll here in Sunderland over the past couple of months, just as the need amongst many of Ireland's hardcore supporters to remortgage has forced them to think twice before leaving the country prior to the end of the month.
Still, with close to 36,000 people in attendance, there were enough people at the Stadium of Light last night to bring Niall Quinn's testimonial earnings to the desired £1 million, all of it going to charity.
Like most parties, it seems, the initially sluggish sales had been down to the inevitable fear amongst those coming that they might turn up first and be forced to endure some embarrassing silences with the hosts.
Some chance. A beaming Quinn walked onto the pitch flanked by his kids, Aisling and Michael, to a standing ovation. He was quickly joined by his wife Gillian, and looked like he'd happily have hugged each of the supporters as the arrived in the door. They'd certainly have reciprocated, aware of course that this may yet prove to be the Irishman's last appearance in the club's red and white stripes.
And it didn't last long. The 35 year-old played just 23 minutes of the first half before being replaced by the town's other folk hero, Kevin Phillips. The Irishman disappeared before returning after the break for a brief stint on the Irish side. Fourteen minutes later he was off again, his night having achieved its aim and perhaps setting a trend that will the football world better.
Off the field, the night's events were clouded somewhat by the confusion that surrounded the absence of Roy Keane. FAI officials played down his non-appearance, explaining that the player had been in touch to say that he would be staying on in Manchester to receive additional treatment on a minor hamstring problem, and that he would join up with the rest of the squad in Dublin today, a line echoed by the player's solicitor who was at the game.
The Old Trafford press office, however, had apparently contradicted them earlier in the day with a spokesman insisting that the club had released the 30-year-old on Sunday.
There was little by way of excitement in a warmly appreciated but never hotly contested game between one side whose serious business for the year is over and another whose work has yet to begin.
A couple of McCarthy's squad, perhaps, travel to Japan with points to prove, not to the manager who has kept faith with them, of course, but to those who have questioned whether he was right to do so.
Lee Carsley, David Connolly and Mark Kennedy wasted no time in making their case, the Wimbledon striker producing a low crossed ball from wide on the right that eluded two defenders before arriving in perfect time for the Wolves winger to turn past Jurgen Macho from eight yards out.
Carsley played well throughout the half, winning the ball repeatedly in the centre of the pitch and using it well, most memorably when his curling ball into the right-hand side of the box looked to have set Clinton Morrison up for the second goal of the night.
Joachim Bjorkland did well with his challenge, though, and so we had to wait until the 23rd minute for the Irish to double their lead. When Richard Knopper fouled the advancing Carsley on the edge of the area, Steve Staunton and Connolly both arrived to weigh up the options. In the end the striker slipped the ball low past the defensive wall and into the bottom right corner.
Seconds later Kilbane might have made it three, but twice hit close-range shots at Macho. The double save may have been easy, but it was more work than Shay Given (the only man, it turned out, who the local crowd's charitable spirit didn't extend to on the night) had to through the whole first half.
Phillips had looked likely to test him when he was allowed plenty of time to line things up from outside the box, but when it came his shot was poor.
There were so many changes from half-time on that it would have been foolish to expect anything at all from what was left of the game, although Kennedy's short run and cross for Kilbane, who headed home at the far post 10 minutes from time, probably copper-fastened the Dubliner's claim to be fit again.
Such was the extent of the comings and goings by then, however, that even the home side's club mascots, Samson and Delilah, must have fancied their chances of finally getting their game.
When they didn't, the people inside the black cat outfits must have wished they'd followed the lead of their counterpart at nearby Hartlepool and sought alternative employment in the local elections, where H'Angus the monkey becamemayor on the basis of Quinn-like child-friendly policies.
Next time, perhaps. Last night, there was only one party in Sunderland - the one hosted by Quinn.
SUNDERLAND: Macho; Williams, Bjorkland, Thome, Gray; Bellion, McCann, Thirlwell, Arca; Quinn, Knopper. Subs: Phillips for Quinn and Craddock for Bjorkland (23 mins), Medina and McCartney for Phillips and Arca (half-time), Varga for Thome (58 mins), Clark for Craddock and James for Williams (63 mins).
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Given; Finnan, Cunningham, Breen, Staunton; Kennedy, Kinsella, Carsley, Kilbane; Morrison, Connolly. Subs: Kiely, Kelly, O'Brien, Dunne, Harte, McAteer, Holland, Duff, Robbie Keane and Quinn for Given, Finnan, Cunningham, Breen, Staunton, Kinsella, Carsley, Kilbane, Morrison and Connolly (half-time), Kilbane for Quinn (59 mins), Carsley and Connolly for Kennedy and Kilbane (84 mins).
Referee: D Gallagher.
