O'Shea advancing managerial claim with pragmatism and confidence

International friendlies are often tedious, uninspiring affairs, and Tuesday night's clash between Ireland and Hungary at the Aviva Stadium did little to dispel that narrative.

However, in a game where dullness can be an effective strategy, John O'Shea's side managed to carve out a 2-1 victory against a team unbeaten in their last 14 international matches and full of confidence ahead of the European Championship.

Facing a formidable Hungarian team, Ireland's approach was rational, sticking with the three at the back and focusing on frustrating the opposition and minimising risks.

With the current state of Irish football, with legacy issues hampering squad quality and depth, such tactics are not just necessary - they are essential.

O'Shea, aware of the uphill battle his team faces in every match, put together a game plan that revolved around defensive discipline while being selective with when is best to attack, ensuring Ireland stayed in the contest.

The match itself was largely devoid of standout individual performances, yet the collective effort and organisation from Ireland was praiseworthy considering it being a game with nothing at stake.

Hungary, despite their recent excellent form, struggled to break down the Irish defence, with most of their chances coming from shots wide of the goal, outside the box or originating from defensive lapses.

One such lapse was courtesy of Shane Duffy's complacency, which was swiftly addressed by O'Shea with decisive half-time substitutions.

Caoimhin Kelleher, who always looked calm and in control was called into action mainly to deal with efforts from distance, a testament to the defensive setup that kept the visitors at bay for most of the game.

While Hungary did manage to score a goal