Complicated farewell reflects reasons for his struggles
Stephen Kenny during an Ireland press conference in Abbotstown. Photo: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
For Stephen Kenny, there has been no escape from the realities of international football. There was an uncomfortable air to his final pre-match press conference in Abbotstown, the official farewell for James McClean running in tandem with Kenny’s messy unofficial goodbye.
In the course of a media briefing that veered between serious discussion and sentimental reflection on working with McClean in his formative days, the Dubliner did point out that there was something nice about the centurion being able to go out on his own terms.