O’Dowda’s Ireland beaten in Cardiff

City’s wideman completed 90 minutes at the Cardiff City Stadium, as Ryan Giggs celebrated his first competitive game in charge with a 4-1 victory.

The hosts set the tone when they broke the deadlock as early as the sixth minute through Tom Lawrence, before Gareth Bale doubled their advantage with a curling left-footed strike from the edge of the area.

Aaron Ramsey made it three as half-time approached and the game was put beyond doubt when Connor Roberts rifled a thunderbolt beyond Darren Randolph from 20 yards.

Shaun Williams did reduce the deficit for Martin O’Neill’s side in the 66^th minute when he seized on a Ramsey mistake, but it proved nothing but a consultation.

O’Dowda and his teammates will now return to Ireland before travelling to face Poland in an international friendly on Tuesday (September 11^th).