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Ireland win fourth in a row to keep hopes alive

Wednesday 28th March 2007, 9:46 pm

Shay Given celebrates his 80th cap, with a win and the Irish captaincy.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Ireland won their fourth competitive game in a row tonight thanks to Kevin Doyle's 13th minute header home against Slovakia at Croke Park.

A much improved Irish side still had scares and mainly had captain Shay Given to to thank for keeping the visitors at bay.

Having named his team almost thirty hours before kick-off, the only guess-work surrounded where Irish boss Steve Staunton would play Steve Finnan and John O'Shea - he opted again for O'Shea on the right.

After a fifteen minute delay caused by crowd congestion, the match kicked off in front of more than 70,000 fans.

Although the Irish side visibly lifted their game, there were a couple of scares in the early going. Shay Given was up to his usual excellence to deny Robert Vittek's dangerous drive before Igor Zofcak had an effort blocked at close range.

Damien Duff in action against Slovakia's Martin Skrtel.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Damien Duff showed signs of reaching the top quality he hasn't shown in a while with Kevin Doyle his typical live wire self up front. Special mention must also go the defensive pairing of Richard Dunne and Paul McShane who were excellent against the visitors' attacks.

The only goal of the game arrived in the 13th minute. A foul on Lee Carsley gave Duff the opportunity to swing in a dangerous free kick and Doyle rose to head in his second international goal.

The goal settled the home side after that nervy start and Kevin Kilbane dragged a shot wide moments later.

It couldn't be said though that tonight's match was all one-way. Slovakia had a number of good chances but failed to convert. Vittek hit a deflected shot wide before the mid-point of the first half.

Given again had to be at his best as he finger-tipped away another stinging low drive from Vittek.

Richard Dunne puts in a man of the match performance. Here he outmuscles Martin Jakubko.

Photo by Tom Carey.

A Kilbane header forced Kamil Contofalsky into a save at the other end as Ireland were definitely performing better than in Saturday's win over Wales.

Just past the half hour Doyle had a shot saved after Stephen Ireland had stolen possession in the Slovak area.

Zofcak again went close as some hesitant Irish defending let him in shortly before the break.

There was no dip in performance from the Irish side after the break on a cold night on Dublin's northside.

Kilbane hit an optimistic volley off target shortly after the break. McShane did well at the other end to combat a threatening attack from Martin Jakubko.

Kevin Doyle celebrates with Damien Duff.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Stephen Hunt repeated his lively substitute appearance of Saturday when he got on for the closing twenty minutes. He again caused the opposition problems and displayed an amazing attitude to never give up on the ball.

Hunt's Reading team-mate Shane Long arrived for fellow club-mate Doyle in the closing fifteen minutes and Long could well have grabbed his first international goal.

The former Cork City man almost got in within seconds of his arrival only to be denied by a goal-line clearance. With ten minutes remaining he powered a header not far wide from Hunt's wicked cross.

Alan Quinn got on for the closing five or so minutes and it wasn't exactly an enjoyable period for any of the Irish players. Slovakia were pushing for the late equaliser which might keep their qualification hopes alive.

The closest they came was on 87 minutes when Given pulled off a point-blank save from Filip Holosko inside the area.

Stephen Hunt leaves Martin Skrtel in his wake.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Lubomir Michalik blazed over from a great position even later and his reaction was one of a man who knew he had just blown a golden opportunity.

That was it, Ireland had claimed four successive competitive wins and can look on at qualifying until resuming in Slovakia in September.

Staunton and his team have rebuilt a lot of pride and confidence with tonight's performance while the next number of months will offer the boss a chance to further tinker with his squad.

Ireland : Given, O'Shea, Finnan, Dunne, McShane, Carsley, Kilbane, Ireland (Hunt 70), McGeady (A Quinn 86), Duff, Doyle (Long 74).
Slovakia : Contofalsky, Singlar (Sestak 79), Skrtel, Kimpl, Gresko, Zofcak, Borbely, Svento (Michalik 86), Sapara (Holosko 71), Vittek, Jakubko.

Referee : Yuri Baskakov (Russia)
Attendance : 71,297.