Sport

Ireland go down heavily

Republic of Ireland - 0 Germany - 1 Ireland had no answer to Germany last night as Brian Kerr's side suffered a heavy defeat…

Tue Oct 22 2002 - 01:00

Republic of Ireland - 0 Germany - 1 Ireland had no answer to Germany last night as Brian Kerr's side suffered a heavy defeat in the opening game of their qualifying tournament at St Colman's Park.

Having been second best in a disappointingly one-sided first half, the home team went in just one goal behind, but Germany soaked up the pressure in the second half and struck for two late goals.

Ireland started nervously, but managed to avoid conceding a goal for the first half an hour. But the skilful German side finally earned a deserved lead goal after 31 minutes. Germany's influential captain Eugen Polanski was central to the move as he sent the ball forward with a strong header. Fabian Muller challenged Shane McFaul, with the ball breaking kindly for Aaron Hunt and his low, left-foot drive from the edge of the area flew past Darren Quigley.

The half-time introduction of Arsenal midfielder Patrick Cregg gave Ireland an added urgency from the resumption. The influential Stephen Foley found Gerry Gill with a sublime 50-yard pass before the Derry winger cut past two defenders only to see his shot deflect out for a corner.

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The German threat always remained, however, and they put the seal on their win when Ireland gave away a bad second goal on 75 minutes. Paul McShane's back-pass fell short and Dejagah was there in a flash to shoot past Quigley.

A third goal followed deep into stoppage time. Bernd Nehrig crossed low from the right and Dejagah was there to fire home his second of the night.

Ireland meet France at Turner's Cross tomorrow, while the Germans play Slovenia at Buttevant. In yesterday's other game, France enjoyed a deserved 2-1 win over Slovenia in Fermoy.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Quigley (St Joseph's Boys); Kelly (Cherry Orchard), Nash (Ipswich), McFaul (Notts County), McShane (Man United); Gill (Derry City), Foley (Aston Villa), O'Donnell (Arsenal), McGavigan (Leicester); McGeady (Celtic), Best (Notts County). Subs: Cregg (Arsenal) for McGavigan (half-time), Keogh (Leeds) for Gill (63 mins.), O'Brien (Belvedere) for O'Donnell (80 mins).

GERMANY: Fromlowitz; Lerchl, Schacken, Bieler, Schutzbach; Leschinski, Polanski, Heppke; Muller, Dejagah, Hunt. Subs: Nehrig for Muller (68 mins), Neumayr for Polanski (77 mins), Gruter for Hunt (80 mins).

Referee: E Laursen (Denmark).