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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Gavin Quinn

Richard Dunne's heroic performance against Russia in Euro 2012 qualifier

Ireland have put in some amazing performances on the road over the past few decades, and among them was a heroic trip to Moscow in 2011.

Giovanni Trapattoni's side put up the iron curtain in a 90-minute nail-biter that saw them repel Russia and earn a valuable point on the road to Euro 2012 qualification.

A memorable night for the Boys in Green, no one player's performance lives quite as long in the memory as a towering Richard Dunne display.

The veteran centre-half put in the shift of his life at the Luzhniki Stadium as he left every last ounce on the field - and some of his cheek on the running track - for Ireland's cause.

It was clear early on that the Aston Villa man was in superb form as he found himself in the right place at the right time to block a sure goal after Shay Given was beaten by Igor Semshov’s first-half shot.

For 90 minutes Dunne cleared Irish lines, dominated the skies above the Ireland defence and landed crunching tackles to keep out a relentless Russian attack.

Perhaps the most enduring image came after a bloodied Dunne grazed his cheek off the running track following another huge tackle on the sideline.

And having to leave the field for medical attention, Dunne returned with a fresh jersey with his number written on the front and back in black marker.

In a seismic individual display, the centre-half refused to give in as Ireland held on for a crucial point on the road.

He was already a Boys in Green legend by 2011, but the man of the match display will remain in Irish football folklore as one of the greatest individual displays of all time.

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