Michael Obafemi steals the show to hand Stephen Kenny a much needed win

MICHAEL OBAFEMI stole the show on his first Ireland start to hand Stephen Kenny a belated first competitive home win as boss.

And what a timely victory after such a grim build up courtesy of two soft defeats that left fans wondering where it was all going.

But this team has threatened to unleash a performance like this against mid to high ranking opposition, without seeing it through.

But Obafemi and Troy Parrott got the job done by weighing in with goals assisted by each other, to complement Alan Browne’s bundled opener.

Obafemi’s clipped assist to Parrott was a thing of beauty but his thunderbolt goal from distance was just jaw dropping.

It was the first time since Mark Kennedy and David Connolly in September 1997 that two players aged 21 or under scored for Ireland in a senior competitive game.

Just for good measure, Ireland were also recording a record win over Scotland, having never scored more than one goal against them in a competitive game up to now.

Kenny said: “We know what we’re doing. We were on a great run and the setbacks really hurt us but the players have absolute conviction.

“We’re emerging, we’re not perfect, there’s growth in this squad and team for sure but we had some good players missing today. We can continue to improve.”

But even when this Irish team decides to entertain, they still throw a curveball - just to keep you honest and ensure that you’ve earned that right to be pleased.

Because some of the playing-out-from-the-back merited a health warning as Shane Duffy’s approach was a little too casual at times.

Ryan Christie should certainly have punished the home side when he intercepted one of those short passes in the box, intended for Josh Cullen.

Later, John McGinn ought to have capitalised on another but the Aston Villa man fizzed a shot just wide of Caoimhin Kelleher’s post.

And that was Scotland’s sliding doors moment because an equaliser might have changed the dynamic of the game.

But Ireland were having none of it.

They were already ahead by the 20th minute and comfortably in the driving seat, which might explain their loose, licence-to-thrill approach at the back.

James McClean’s corners were top quality all afternoon. They caused Scotland all sorts of problems, particularly the inswingers.

And Ireland opened the scoring from one of them when Duffy, at the back post, sent the ball back across the face of goal for Browne to bundle home.

Playing as a right wing-back here, the ball came off his thigh / groin, but after the week Kenny has had, he will take whatever is going.

It was Browne’s first contribution of note, but certainly not his last as he rendered Liverpool ace Andy Robertson anonymous all evening.

“Not everything was perfect,” added Kenny. “We’ve had some better passages of play in other games and not scored.

“But goals make such a difference once you get them, and the crowd gets up and the players’ confidence gets up.”

The South Stand belted out passionate renditions of ‘There’s Only One Stephen Kenny’ - and then saw Ireland double the lead eight minutes later.

Obafemi’s clipped ball to Parrott was exquisite, and so too was the young Tottenham striker’s cushioned, headed finish past Craig Gordon.

In eight minutes, Ireland had doubled their Nations League goal tally across three stabs at this tournament, under Martin O’Neill and twice under Kenny.

Jason Knight’s role in proceedings cannot be overlooked. The strikers will grab the headlines, but the Derby ace was Ireland’s human dynamo after an incredible shift.

But enough of that, back to the strikers….

And, wallop!

Six minutes into the second-half, Obafemi unleashed an unstoppable rocket from distance that left Craig Gordon in a heap.

It was a stunning goal and the Swansea City star couldn’t have wished to hit the ball cleaner.

Browne and Jayson Molumby played key roles in winning the ball back deep in Scotland’s half, with Parrott returning the earlier favour and teeing him up.

But the moment was all Obafemi’s.

After pulling the trigger, he had Kenny racing down the touchline in celebration while some fans spilled over one another behind the goal.

Alas, it was also his final contribution after shipping a groin injury that leaves him doubtful for Tuesday’s game away to Ukraine in Poland.

VAR then denied Ireland a fourth when Grant Hanley cleared sub Scott Hogan’s header off the line but, hey, let’s not get greedy.

By then, a timely win of substance - and some style - was long since banked for a team who clearly have their manager's back.