Eamon Dunphy highly critical of gaffer and Ireland’s stand-out player

"All of them owe Stephen Kenny a debt as does Heimir Hallgrimsson."

For the first time since beating Scotland 3-0 at the Aviva Stadium in June 2022, there is a definite air of optimism around the Ireland men's football team.

Four win in their last six games - Finland x2 and Bulgaria x2 - have fans warming to Ireland boss and qualified dentist Heimir Hallgrimsson, despite the 5-0 drubbing to England at Wembley.

Ireland's stand-out performer in the recent wins over Bulgaria, along with Robbie Brady, has been attacking midfielder Finn Azaz, fwho finished with a goal and an assist as he won his sixth and seventh caps for his country.

Despite the unanimous praise for the Middlesborough man, contrarian Eamon Dunphy was not buying the hype in his column for the Irish Mirror, and also cast doubts over Hallgrimsson, whom he refers to as 'The Dentist, while heaping praise on previous gaffer Stephen Kenny.

Dunphy wrote: "All of them owe Stephen Kenny a debt as does Heimir Hallgrimsson.

"Kenny blooded these players. He invested time and caps into them.

"And The Dentist is profiting from Kenny’s work

I still have my doubts about The Dentist, despite this win, because he put a team on the field tonight which lacked balance.

"There may be a media love-in about Finn Azaz. Well, I’m not joining that gang. He is overhyped.

"We need some more guile and midfielders. But there is hope."