It was less a contest and more a celebration — of United’s enduring Irish connection, of unerring finishing in front of goal and of a magnificent new sporting structure — as United romped to a 7-1 win against a League of Ireland XI in Dublin. Wayne Rooney made his long-awaited club return but it was goals from Ji-sung Park (2), Michael Owen, Javier Hernandez, Antonio Valencia, Jonny Evans and Nani that stole the show. The Reds, English football’s crown jewels, had travelled to the Emerald Isle to open Dublin’s glistening new Aviva Stadium. And it was a group of rough diamonds, mined from the semi-professional League of Ireland, who had been charged with the unenviable task of trying to stop United’s stars from shining.