McGeady said, “It was very disappointing. We wanted to start the season with a win and we find ourselves two points behind Rangers already. Obviously there is still a long way to go, this was only the first game of the season and it takes time for the players to gel, but this was far from our best performance.

“We didn’t create too many chances. It was more scraps in and around the penalty area. The supporters came to the game to see the flag being unfurled and they expected us to put on a show, but it didn’t quite happen.

“You can’t single anyone out, but I think everyone was playing below their usual standards. We really should be beating Kilmarnock at home.”

Manager Gordon Strachan was left to rue a catalogue of missed chances with the strike duo of Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Maciej Zurawski off form.

Strachan said, “It wasn’t bad. I’ve seen a lot worse from us and I take a lot of positives from it. We created a lot of chances, our keeper hardly had a save to make and we kept a clean sheet.

“In the last few games that we’ve won with a single goal, that’s by far the most possession and most chances that we’ve had against Kilmarnock. But I must say well done to Kilmarnock, they defended very bravely, they were fit and strong in the air. If we had taken the chance we got early on then it would have been a real problem.

“It’s just unfortunate that we could not finish off some of the good work during the game. On the day we weren’t good enough when we had attempts on goal and we had quite a few. The strikers worked very hard, got themselves into good positions and worked well but at this moment, and not just them, anyone who gets in is not finishing.”

Strachan will break new ground when he brings Celtic to Russia for the Champions League third round qualifier against Spartak Moscow next week.

The Celtic boss said, “I’ve never been to Russia or played there. I’ll need to send scouts Tom O’Neill and Ray Clarke to see Spartak. I won’t have the chance to see them myself which is not great.”

Lapira’s Choice

NEW Irish international Joe Lapira has claimed he could yet throw his lot in with America despite winning an Ireland cap against Bolivia in May.

Notre Dame student Lapira, who spent a week on trial at Glasgow Rangers earlier this month, could still declare for the U.S. as the Bolivia game was only a friendly.

Lapira said, “It was pretty special to play for Ireland as, to be honest, I thought I’d just be training with them. I had never played at anything higher than college level so to be thrust into international soccer was amazing. Going to play with Ireland was a big step up.

“I still have an option to commit my international future to the United States as the Ecuador game wasn’t a competitive one. I have to make up my mind before my 21st birthday.”

O’Shea’s Belief

IRELAND and Manchester United defender John O’Shea believes Alex Ferguson has a squad good enough to retain the Premiership title when the new season kicks off in England this weekend.

“The squad is as strong as we have had here for quite some time,” said O’Shea, who played when United beat Chelsea in the Community Shield final on Sunday.

“The quality we have in numbers is fantastic and the manager is going to have a tough time picking a team, which is a dream situation for him to be in. On the counter-attack, the pace and ability of Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo is going to be a major asset. Some of their one-touch football against Inter was fantastic.”

Soccer Shorts

SHEFFIELD United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny has confirmed he is available for Ireland duty again after taking six months out to sort out family issues. “Hopefully I can get myself back into the squad. Obviously we’ve had a bit of personal problems and I just wanted time out and concentrate on that,” said Kenny . . .

SUNDERLAND manager Roy Keane has launched a bid to land Cork City winger Roy O’Donovan from under the noses of Premiership rivals Fulham. Keane met the player after Sunderland played in Cork last week but the finer points of the deal have still to be agreed . . .

DROGHEDA United have landed a dream date with Henrik Larsson’s Swedish club Helsing-borgs in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Cup. Larsson will play in Dublin on August 16 with the second leg in Sweden a fortnight later . . .

ST. Patrick’s Athletic have signed striker Glen Fitzpatrick from eircom League title rivals Drogheda United who have strengthened their squad with the addition of former Newcastle United forward Guy Bates . . .

SLIGO Rovers snapped up James Meredith from Derby County and Australian under-21 winger Matt Gordon until the end of the season but have failed with a bid to land Derry midfielder Alan Moore . . .

BOHS manager Sean Connor had to run a gauntlet of abuse after his team lost to bottom club Longford Town on Saturday night to effectively end their interest in the eircom League title race . . .

IRISH midfielder Stephen McPhail has finally agreed a new long-term deal at Cardiff City which will keep him at Ninian Park until the summer of 2011 . . .

IRISH striker Alan Lee has agreed a new two year deal with Ipswich Town after Hull City failed with a bid for the 28-year-old . . .

DAVE Mulcahy has been appointed manager of Waterford United on his return to the club from St. Patrick’s Athletic . . .

IRELAND defender Alan Bennett has joined Southampton on a six month loan deal from Reading . . .

SHEFFIELD United manager Bryan Robson has made an offer for Everton’s Ireland winger Kevin Kilbane.

Keating Quits

BABS Keating has quit as manager of the Tipperary hurling team and recommended selector John Leahy for the job -– but he could face opposition from former boss Nicky English.

Keating called it a day after a revealing interview on RTE television with Des Cahill when he said, “It isn’t going to happen for me in terms of getting a team back to Croke Park for All-Ireland final day. I played a minor All-Ireland 47 years ago. I have a wife and a wonderful family. I have a summer place down in Rosslare which I have not seen for the last two years thanks to Tipperary hurling.

“You’d have to ask yourself, as someone who played in a minor All-Ireland in 1960, do I want that in 2008? At the end of the day I can assure you that being in a Tipp dressing room is a wonderful place to be — being in Croke Park with a successful team.

“There is no place like Croke Park on All-Ireland day and I have been to a lot of sporting events all over the world. And I hope it continues. I have to realize that it’s not going to happen to me from now on.”

Sectarian Strife

PRESIDENT Nicky Brennan has vowed to stamp out sectarianism in the GAA after protestant hurler Darren Graham quit the Lisnaskea club in Fermanagh in protest at the abuse he received on the field.

A statement from Brennan and Ulster Council president Tom Daly said, “Such conduct is unacceptable to the association and that as per the official guide, the GAA reaffirms that it is a non-sectarian and non-party political organization.

“Any allegations made will be vigorously investigated and disciplinary action shall be taken where deemed appropriate.”

Rugby Squad

IRELAND coach Eddie O’Sullivan has trimmed his Rugby World Cup squad down to 37 players from the original training squad of 48 and will name his 30 strong finals selection on Sunday, just hours after Saturday’s warm-up game against Scotland at Murrayfield.

Tony Buckley, Peter Bracken, Ryan Caldwell, Johnny O’Connor, Roger Wilson, Tomas O’Leary, Jeremy Staunton, Luke Fitzgerald, Rob Kearney and Kieran Lewis have all lost out while Barry Murphy and Shane Jennings where not considered due to injury.

O’Sullivan said: “The team to play Scotland will be selected from the 37-man squad. While the players that have been omitted may come back into the squad in the case of any injuries, it would be fair to say that these 37 players will form the basis of our final Rugby World Cup squad selection.”

The 37 strong Ireland squad is — forwards: Neil Best, Rory Best, Simon Best, Leo Cullen, Simon Easterby, Stephen Ferris, Jerry Flannery, Keith Gleeson, John Hayes, Jamie Heaslip, Trevor Hogan, Marcus Horan, Bernard Jackman, Denis Leamy, Donncha O’Callaghan, Paul O’Connell, Mick O’Driscoll, Malcolm O’Kelly, Alan Quinlan, Frankie Sheahan, David Wallace, Bryan Young.

Backs: Isaac Boss, Tommy Bowe, Brian Carney, Gordon D’Arcy, Girvan Dempsey, Gavin Duffy, Shane Horgan, Denis Hickie, Geordan Murphy, Brian O’Driscoll, Ronan O’Gara, Eoin Reddan, Peter Stringer, Andrew Trimble, Paddy Wallace.

Senior Smyth Win

A FORTNIGHT after Padraig Harrington lifted the British Open, fellow Irish star Des Smyth was smiling all the way to the bank after the 54-year-old from Drogheda won the Wentworth Senior Masters by two shots from New Zealand’s Bob Charles at the famous Wentworth course on Sunday.

Smyth said, “It’s great to win again — it’s what we do all the work for and I am thrilled to win again. So many great players have won it before, so to join that array of great players is very special.

“I’ll be going home to Drogheda and to my golf club, Baltray, to sink a few pints. Padraig Harrington doesn’t drink, so he’s hopeless for the drinks industry, but the crowd I knock round with will make up for him tonight!”

In other golf news, Irish star Rory McIlroy has been named, as expected, in the Britain and Ireland team for next month’s Walker Cup clash with America at Royal County Down.