Players' Reaction:  A friendly with plenty of snap. Club rivalry can do that to a friendly. Not what the Premiership managers would have liked, but right up Brian Kerr's alley with Israel back-to-back next.

Andy Reid's recent graduation to the top level in English football ensured all starting 11 were Premiership players, a further sign of the rude good health.

There were plenty of stories on the night. Damien Duff hit the 50-cap milestone and had an entertaining running battle with Cristiano Ronaldo - the Premiership title tensions coming alive at Lansdowne Road. In an almost Keane-esque undertone of competitiveness, Duff waited until the 66th minute to exact revenge for a first-half challenge. A yellow card quickly followed.

With little knowledge of the Manchester United/Chelsea spat, Rogerio Matias weighed in on Duff soon after for a yellow of his own.

Kerr had enough as he pulled his prized possession for Liam Miller, a United player but probably just an irony here. Felipe Scolari soon called Ronaldo ashore.

Nobody heard anything from the Duffer thereafter, accept maybe his club manager, Jose Mourinho, who had made the short jump over.

Shay Given was, as ever, receptive to the media requests: "It was a difficult night, very blustery and very wet," he said, almost giving the Portuguese an escape hatch. "But we're happy with another victory over a top-tier team in Europe. A nice scalp."

The main story duly became the defence. Richard Dunne was rewarded for his excellent form of late at Manchester City, but it didn't bode well that he replaced Kenny Cunningham, to partner Andy O'Brien. The Newcastle centre half put aside his club problems with a first international goal and the man of the match award.

"Very pleased with myself," he beamed. "I waited a long time for it I so I'll enjoy it. They all count, don't they? It's always nice to get on the scoresheet, but what really mattered was we won the game with it as well."

Then came Dunne, his main rival to partner captain Cunningham, for now at least he seemed content to be back in the fold where this season he proved he belongs.

"The clean sheet is a good start to the year. Hopefully we can continue that. I enjoyed playing for Ireland, but it was a difficult match. The conditions were not very good but we did really well. It great to get a clean sheet as you get into a habit of it.

"They are doing well in their group and scoring lots of goals. They probably thought they could come here and put one over on us. Over the years a lot of teams think they can come here and win."

The full house (44, 100) also got a glimpse of Celtic's Aiden McGeady for somewhat longer than his injury-time spell against Croatia. He got seven last night, so

the international standardised jury still remains out.

"I've still got it all in front of me but it's good being involved. I'm just gong to have to keep working hard."

Still only 18, maybe the China friendly will reveal more.