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6th August 2023
09:18pm BST
When Manchester United played their first-ever match at Lansdowne Road, the starting XI featured George Best, Bobby Charlton and Denis Law – three Ballon d’Or winners.
Law scored a hat-trick as holders Man United overcame League of Ireland champions Waterford in the first round of the European Cup at a sold-out Lansdowne Road in October 1968.
55 years later, Man United were at Lansdowne Road again in front of a sell-out crowd, but that was the only aspect the two occasions had in common. This time, the starting XI featured Tom Heaton, Daniel Gore and Alvaro Fernandez.
On Sunday afternoon at the Aviva Stadium, over 50,000 Man United supporters watched a second-string side go through the motions as they continued their pre-season preparations.
The first-choice XI, featuring new signings Mason Mount and Andre Onana, played at Old Trafford 24 hours earlier. On the surface, it appeared as though there was nothing to be learned from this match for Erik Ten Hag's team.
It was a game that won't live long in the memory of many who attended, other than young Man United fans getting to see the team play for the first time.
Yet, that changed after around 30 minutes of the match, when Harry Maguire made an error that led to Athletic opening the scoring.
It may seem like an innocuous moment, simply a case of a player finding their form ahead of the new campaign. In Maguire's case, however, it could signal the end moment when all parties accept that it is best to move on.
Dublin's friendly between United and Athletic could, potentially, end up being Maguire's final match for the Red Devils.
If that is the case, the defender marked it as he has far too many other games for United - with an individual mistake.
The former Red Devils skipper carelessly lost the ball around 30 yards from goal when attempting to play a needlessly risky pass with the outside of his boot to youngster Daniel Gore.
Athletic intercepted and Nico Williams was played through on goal before putting the ball past Tom Heaton. Maguire was not helped by some poor play by Aaron Wan-Bissaka a few seconds earlier.
The full-back retreated into his own half due to a heavy first touch, before playing a pass to Maguire. Three Athletic players surrounded the England defender, but Maguire still made the wrong choice and played a meek pass that was easily intercepted.
The 30-year-old was booed by sections of the crowd after the goal. It must also be said that the boos for Maguire were largely drowned out by other fans in the stadium, and before the match, he received a big cheer when the teams were read out.
It could be argued, however, that this is almost worse than being booed. Professional footballers, of course, appreciate support in difficult moments, but they also don't want to be patronised.
And that's the stage Maguire is currently at with the Red Devils, and it's why it's best for all parties to move on. He hasn't worked this hard in his career to become a figure of sympathy or ridicule.
It also will not get better for the player at Old Trafford. He will continue to be criticised when he plays and mocked when he doesn't.
Maguire just isn't the right fit for Ten Hag, who wants his team to play aggressively and with a high line. David de Gea was the first victim of this and Maguire will surely be next.
If he looks uncomfortable in a pre-season friendly, it won't get any better when the campaign begins. Even if he did redeem himself somewhat by setting up Pellistri's equaliser in the final seconds.
Maguire has been the subject of widespread criticism from the moment he joined the club for €85m, becoming the most expensive defender in history to that point. Unfortunately, he has not performed well enough to quieten the criticism. It now looks unlikely that he will ever will.
Under Ten Hag, Maguire has lost his starting spot and the captaincy. He wasn't even named skipper for the match in Dublin, with veteran goalkeeper Heaton taking the armband.
Maguire also looked low on confidence in the match, like someone who isn't enjoying himself. At this point, the only logical solution for all parties is a move - a loan or permanent deal - before the transfer deadline at the end of the month.
The match in Dublin didn't prove a lot from a football perspective, but it confirmed that Maguire and the Red Devils must part ways.
Persisting with this any longer is almost as cruel as charging full-price tickets to watch a second-string Man United the day after the first team played at Old Trafford.
