Republic of Ireland 3-0 Faroe Islands

IT BEGAN, LIKE so many nights over the last 15 years, with a Robbie Keane goal: a quick step to create a half a yard of space and a finish across the goalkeeper into the far corner.

In the build-up to this special evening, a record 126^th appearance which takes him to the milestone of Ireland’s most capped international, Keane swore that he would continue to pull on the green shirt for as long as he is scoring goals. The Aviva Stadium clock had scarcely passed the four-minute mark when he did what he does best: the creative spark provided by Wes Hoolahan, the final ball by Aiden McGeady.

By the time he tapped home his hat-trick in the 81^st minute, Keane had shown once again just how vital he is to this side, improving his remarkable tally to a brilliant 59 goals. The perfect script, the perfect evening for Ireland’s Hollywood kid. On a night when Giovanni Trapattoni’s side needed to improve their goal difference deficit, they lacked urgency in a largely flat first half. Having hit the front so early, Ireland failed to kick on and had just one goal to show at the break.

There were chances though and, invariably, the best of them fell to Keane. He should have done better in the 25^th minute when set loose by a quick free-kick from Simon Cox and a neat flick from Jon Walters. Faroes keeper Gunnar Nielsen was in no mood for charity though and when Keane dawdled, the chance went begging.

Nielsen had his palms stung again by the striker a few minutes later while McGeady, who was a constant torment to Jonhard Frederiksberg and captain Simun Samuelsen on the left, popped an effort on goal from 20 yards.

But while Ireland dawdled, there never seemed to any danger of a Faroese bite. Goalkeeper David Forde was a bystander for much of the evening, most of his meaningful touches coming from passes from his own players. It wasn’t until the 54^th minute that the visitors had a real chance of note and when it came, midfielder Heini Vandsdal shot well over the bar.

Sixty seconds later, Keane had put the game to bed with another trademark finish. Again Hoolahan was at the move’s heart, shrugging off his marker before slipping the ball to Seamus Coleman who offered an attacking outlet throughout. Coleman’s first-time cross was on a plate for Keane who slid in at the back post.

Ireland’s Wes Hoolahan with Ari Mohr Jonsson of The Faroe Islands. Pic: INPHO/Donall Farmer

If tonight belonged to the captain it was also one to savour for Hoolahan, who at the age of 31, finally made his first competitive start in green. Trapattoni has often spoken in the past about the Norwich playmaker’s physicality, or supposed lack thereof, but this was a night when there never seemed to be any danger that he would be dragged into a midfield battle. Glenn Whelan’s anchor gave him the freedom to roam between the lines, dictating the forward advances and changing the point of attack.

His first meaningful contribution led to the game’s opening goal. After playing a one-two with Jon Walters, Hoolahan opened out the play to bring in McGeady. With his best cross of a busy night, he picked out Keane for the striker to steer past Nielsen. The night could have been even better for Hoolahan had he made more of a glorious chance shortly after the restart. McGeady put the ball up but from five yards out, but his header was always rising well over the bar.

The icing on the cake came nine minutes from time. James McClean, on as a late substitute for McGeady, found space down the left and squared to Conor Sammon. By the time Sammon rolled his pass into space, the outcome was inevitable: goal number 59 on another night to cherish for Ireland’s most prolific striker.

Ireland: Forde, Coleman, St Ledger, O’Shea, Wilson (Kelly, 81’), McGeady (McClean, 76’), Whelan, Hoolahan, Cox, Walters (Sammon, 73’), Keane (c).

Faroe Islands: Nielsen, Jonsson, Justinusen, Frederiksberg, Baldvinson, Gregerson, Vandsdal, Samuelsen (c), Olsen, Holst (Samuelsen, 84’), Klettskaro (Edmundsson, 64’).

Attendance: 30,805

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