Republic of Ireland 3 Andorra 1:The Republic of Ireland maintained their 100 per cent record in the Euro 2012 qualifiers after a comfortable win over Andorra tonight. The visitors, by no means the whipping boys many expected, proved obdurate opponents at times but Ireland can reflect on a job well done.
Giovanni Trapattoni’s contention that there are no easy games in international football may have been back up in Lichtenstein, where Scotland needed seven minutes of injury time to claim a 2-1 win. But Sweden managed six against San Marino while Italy put five past Brian Kerr’s Faroe Islands.
Nevertheless, the Italian won’t complain about the margin of victory and with six points in the bag and a goal difference of plus three, Ireland now top Group B ahead of next month’s crucial double-header with Slovakia and Russia.
Robbie Keane struck nine minutes into the second half to seal a comfortable victory after Kevin Kilbane and Kevin Doyle had put the home side 2-0 ahead. The visitors briefly gave themselves hope when midfielder Christian Martinez pulled a goal back on the stroke of half-time, but it proved to be to no avail.
Keane insisted during the run-up to the first competitive game at the Aviva Stadium that he would not dwell on an uncharacteristically unproductive trip to Armenia last week, and he was as good as his word to extend his national record tally to 44 on his 102nd appearance.
Few among the 40,283 souls to witness the first events at the newly-refurbished stadium expected anything other than and Irish victory, and a comfortable one at that with Andorra’s largely part-time team ranked 201st in the world and without a win in 13 attempts.
For 44 of the opening 45 minutes, they were not disappointed as the Republic, for once cast in the role of favourite, took the game by the scruff of the neck.
True, they did not carve out dozens of clear-cut chances, but this is Trapattoni’s team, one based on defensive resilience and the ability to prevail in tight encounters through organisation, commitment and sheer bloody-mindedness.
They were ahead as early as the 14th minute when Kilbane timed his run to glance Liam Lawrence’s near-post corner past keeper Josep Antoni Gomes and set the ball rolling.
Lawrence later chipped into the side-netting after embarrassing defender Marc Bernaus, Andorra’s only full-time professional, but although Aiden McGeady toyed with full-back and by trade, estate agent, Jordi Escura, Andorra managed to keep their hosts at bay.
However, Ireland eventually extended their lead five minutes before the break, and did so in some style. Lawrence caught midfielder Sergi Moreno, who had earlier almost left keeper Shay Given red-faced with a wickedly bouncing long-range effort, in possession and sensing an opportunity, Doyle arrived to add weight to the ambush.
When the ball finally emerged at the striker’s feet, he set himself before smashing a rising left-foot shot beyond the diving Gomes and into the top corner.
The die looked to have been cast, but Andorra, who lost their opening game 2-0 to Russia on Friday evening, were not quite ready to throw in the towel, and when a 45th-minute clearance dropped to Martinez 20 yards out, he drilled a half-volley past the astonished Given to keep the game alive.
That would not have amused Trapattoni or his players as they sipped their half-time tea, and there was a renewed determination about them on their return. Their response was swift and stylish as the third goal arrived with just nine minutes of the half gone.
McGeady headed in-field once again and with the help of Paul Green and Doyle worked his way into a position from which he could play Keane into the box. Having fluffed his lines in Armenia on Friday evening, the Tottenham striker was not about to pass up another glorious opportunity and duly obliged with a deft finish to make the game safe.
It now seemed only a matter of by how many Ireland would win, and Keane was licking his lips when Doyle appeared to be hauled to the ground inside the box by defender Jose Fernando Silva 13 minutes later. However, to the astonishment of both men, Cypriot referee Leontios Trattou waved their claims away.
But with the job done, the clock ran down with little prospect of a fightback from one side and no need for a cavalry charge from the other.
Ireland:Given (Manchester City); O'Shea (Manchester United), Dunne (Aston Villa), St Ledger (Preston North End), Kilbane (Hull City); Lawrence (Portsmouth), Green (Derby County), Whelan (Stoke City), McGeady (Spartak Moscow); Doyle (Wolves), Keane (Tottenham Hotspur). Subs:Gibson (Manchester United) for Whelan (61 mins), Kelly (Fulham) for O'Shea (75 mins), Keogh (Cardiff City) for Doyle (83 mins).
Andorra:Gomes; Escura, Silva, Lima, Bernaus; Martinez, Vieira, Ayala, Moreno; Pujol, Gomez. Subs:Jimenez for Moreno (59 mins), Andorra for Ayala (71 mins), Sonejee for Pujol (86 mins).
Referee:L Trattou (Cyprus).