Ireland 1 Denmark 5: Ireland player ratings

A shocking night for Irish football is reflected in the ratings as Denmark came and plundered

Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill laments his side's poor defending as Denmark qualify for the 2018 World Cup with a 5-1 win in Dublin.

Darren Randolph

Brilliant save from Kvist early on and kept Sisto out as well soon after. No chance with for any of the goals. It's bad when your keeper is beaten five times and is still your best player. Rating: 5

Cyrus Christie

Unlucky for the own goal, couldn't get his feet sorted out. Good on the front foot, setting Murphy up to kiss the side-netting in the first half and scything through for a chance in the second. Rating: 5

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Ciaran Clark

With Meyler and Arter gone off, needed to give Hendrick better support but was nowhere for Eriksen's second goal. No great involvement otherwise. Taken off for Long with 20 to go. Rating 4

Shane Duffy

Early goal looked for a while like it would grant him cult status for life. But once his midfield cover went off, he was a spectator. Tried to rally the side but it was a lost cause. Rating: 5

Stephen Ward

Paid a massive price for what could have been an innocuous mistake on another night. Looked rattled thereafter and made a calamitous howler for the fourth goal. Rating: 4

Jeff Hendrick

Did okay when the job was keeping the Danes scoreless but offered little when the parameters changed. Bypassed frequently as the sitting midfielder after half-time. Rating 3

David Meyler

Caught flat-footed when beaten to the punch by Christensen for the first Danish goal. Made way for Hoolahan at half-time and the walls came tumbling down after that. Rating: 4

Robbie Brady

Rounded off a mediocre campaign with another sulky, nothing performance. His moaning might carry more heft if he put the odd dead ball where it was supposed to go. Rating: 3

James McClean

Couldn't get into the game at any stage. Worked tirelessly across the frontline but never showed any quality. Blazed a late shot a mile wide, which summed up the night. Rating: 5

Harry Arter

Made a crucial error by standing so square and getting skinned by Sisto for the first goal. Gave away possession a fair bit too and got the shepherd's hook at half-time. Rating: 4

Daryl Murphy

Not his sort of game. Lumbered over and back trying to shut down the Danish defence but apart from one nifty touch in a move that ended with a McClean shot, had no attacking impact. Rating: 4

Substitutions

Wes Hoolahan had a few nice touches but only when the game was gone. Aiden McGeady was as frustrating as ever. Shane Long lobbed his one chance onto the roof of the net. Rating: 5

Martin O’Neill

A terrible night. Maybe the game was gone when he made the substitutions but still, taking off your midfield is a strange gambit. Ireland's discomfort when they had to play football was damning. Rating: 3

Malachy Clerkin

Malachy Clerkin

Malachy Clerkin is a sports writer with The Irish Times