IrishFootballOnline.com » The unofficial and Independent Irish Football website.

Ireland wave farewell to Lansdowne with easy win

Thursday 16th November 2006, 12:07 am

Robbie Keane celebrates after clinching his hat-trick.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Ireland handed Steve Staunton his first competitive win as Irish manager tonight. The curtain was lowered on international football at Lansdowne Road as Ireland eased to a 5-0 win against San Marino, one of the few whipping boys still left in international football.

An own-goal started the scoring after an Andy Reid free kick before Kevin Doyle netted his his first international goal and Robbie Keane helped himself to a hat-trick.

Any worries Irish fans may have had were quickly banished as Reid found the back of the net with a free kick after only six minutes as Davide Simoncini put the ball past his own keeper under pressure from the set-piece. Doyle's run at the visiting defence prompted the set-piece for Reid to at least gain an assist for the opening goal.

Kevin Doyle headed in his first goal for Ireland.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Doyle went close and Keane headed wide at the near post after a dangerous cross from Kevin Kilbane before Doyle had another effort drift just wide as Ireland looked to wrap up an early win.

Doyle made it 2-0 on 23 minutes as he headed home from Kilbane's cross. Kilbane and Doyle both went close and although the amateurs from San Marino were doing very little, Richard Dunne and Shay Given both had wayward passes intercepted in dangerous positions. In truth, the visitors had about one shot on target in ninety minutes.

The only time Given looked even nearly tested came just before half-time as Andy Selva fired a low free kick not far wide.

By that time Ireland were already 3-0 up after Keane slotted the ball past Frederico Valentini in the visiting goal just after the half hour.

Paul McShane won Ireland a penalty after this run at Simone Bacciocchi.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Doyle missed his chance for a second shortly after half-time, heading wide after Valentini had flapped at a cross.

Jonathan Douglas was brought in after less than five minutes of the half, replacing Lee Carsley. The change was as likely recognition for Douglas' contribution against the Czech's than anything else.

Paul McShane put in another strong performance at the back and showed another aspect to his game shortly before the hour. Running at the defence, McShane drew the foul from Simone Bacciocchi with Ireland getting the penalty. Keane stepped up and slotted home to make it 4-0.

It other circumstances the decision to withdraw Doyle just after the hour may have prompted questions but the arriving Aiden McGeady caused plenty of problems for the already beaten visitors.

Aiden McGeady was a major threat after his introduction.

Photo by Tom Carey.

McShane and Dunne both headed off target as it became a task of boosting goal-difference with the win wrapped up long ago. Alan Lee came on for the closing ten minutes or so and almost fired home with his first touch, narrowly missing the target at the near post.

With five minutes remaining, Keane struck for his hat-trick. A diving header turned the ball home from Reid's dangerous cross to make it 5-0.

Ireland could have added a sixth as Damien Duff in particular went close. McShane blotted his copybook slightly with a late booking, one of just two yellow cards shown in the whole game.

It may have only been a win over San Marino but the parade around the old venue by the players at the end was a nice gesture and could mark the last time some of them play there.

Cyprus drew 1-1 with Germany in the group's other game today.

Ireland : Given, O'Shea, Finnan, Dunne, McShane, Carsley (Douglas 49), Kilbane (Lee 79), Duff, A Reid, Doyle (McGeady 63), Keane.
San Marino : F Valentini, C Valentini, Vanucci (Crescentini 72), Albani, Simoncini (Bonini 81), Bacciocchi, Andreini, Bugli, Mariotti (Michele Marani 59), Manuel Marani, Selva.


Footnote : Since the game, Andy Reid has been credited with the first Irish goal in the game and his record now includes the first as his goal.