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Keane and Long doubles beat Denmark

Wednesday 22nd August 2007, 8:55 pm

Robbie Keane brought his international tally to thirty-one.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Two goals each from Robbie Keane and Shane Long saw Ireland romp to a 4-0 win in tonight's friendly international away to Denmark. Although shaken by a good Danish start, Ireland battled back and were rarely troubled again until the closing minutes when Steve Staunton's Irish side eased off with next month's competitive games in the former Czechoslovakia in mind.

With a mixture of experience and youth starting for Ireland, Denmark started better and goalkeeper Wayne Henderson was lucky to escape a first minute mistake as he dropped a corner under little pressure and it was fortunate for Ireland that Nicklas Bendtner couldn't capitalize.

Ireland survived another scare on 13 minutes as Dennis Rommedahl left Steve Finnan in his wake before firing in a cross and Bendtner was again unlucky as his header crashed against the crossbar with the Irish defence able to mop up the loose ball.

Jon Dahl Tomasson forced a save from Henderson after a good Danish move saw Jesper Gronkjaer set him up but it was the last Denmark really threatened until the game was well beyond redemption for them.

Ireland took the lead on 29 minutes as Robbie Keane flicked home superbly across Jesper Christiansen to the far corner of the net after Andy Reid's excellent through ball from the centre circle set him away.

Keane netted his second on the night and his thirty-first at international level to make it 2-0 on 40 minutes. Keane dived in on the end of Aiden McGeady's driven near post cross and although the Irish skipper couldn't reach it at the first attempt, Christiansen's attempted punch clear came back off Keane and rebounded into the net.

Gronkjaer cut inside and forced a good tip over from Henderson shortly before half-time when both managers decided it was time for a change. Long, Andy Keogh and Darron Gibson arrived on the field for Ireland with Gibson making his first Republic of Ireland senior appearance while Northern Ireland still dispute his status.

It was Gibson who set up Ireland's third goal on 54 minutes. His driven low shot from about twenty-five yards came back off goalkeeper
Christiansen but Long was alert to the situation to fire into the far corner for his second international goal.

Keane wasn't to be given the chance to notch up a hat-trick - withdrawn for Daryl Murphy before the hour while John O'Shea took over the captaincy. Kevin Kilbane would then join the action after the hour to move into the top five most capped Irish internationals ever.

Long fired in a fourth on 66 minutes as he did superbly to hold off the attentions of William Kvist on the edge of the area before slotting home. McGeady slotted the ball through and former Cork City player Long held his ground to shield the ball before dispatching to the net.

At 4-0 up, Ireland eased off a lot and although Denmark pushed forward they came up against typically robust defending from Richard Dunne although O'Shea almost headed past Henderson to gift the home side a consolation.

Bendtner headed against an upright as the Irish concentration visibly faded while Henderson made a good full length save in the final minute to push away Kvist's long range shot.

While the result itself counts for little, Irish boss Steve Staunton will be delighted with tonight's performance ahead of next month's two crucial European Championship qualifying games.


Denmark : Christiansen, Bogelund (Kahlenburg 46), Gravgaard (Kvist 46), Agger, N Jensen (Kristiansen 46), Wurtz (Lovenkrands 68), Rommedahl, D Jensen (Laursen 46), Gronkjaer, Bendtner, Tomasson (Nordstrand 59).

Ireland : Henderson, Carr, Finnan (Kilbane 62), Dunne, O'Shea, Potter (Kelly 67), A Reid (Gibson 46), Hunt (Keogh 46), McGeady, K Doyle (Long 46), Keane (Murphy 56).