Republic of Ireland 1 Bulgaria 1:Giovanni Trapattoni's Republic of Ireland side failed to put Bulgaria's hopes of qualification for South Africa 2010 to bed tonight, despite the best possible start at Croke Park.

Ireland now trail Italy - who defeated Montenegro 2-0 tonight - by two points in Group Eight ahead of their away trip to Bari on Wednesday. And though they still hold a seven point lead over Bulgaria, who they face again on June 6th, the advantage could have been so much greater after a first minute goal from Richard Dunne.

Instead, the initiative was lost, thanks to a sloppy home performance and an unfortunate Kevin Kilbane own-goal 16 minutes from time.

After conceding an opening minute goal to Georgia last time out it was Ireland’s turn to strike early and Damien Duff’s understudy Stephen Hunt can take the bulk of the credit.

As is his wont, Hunt took the first opportunity to run at his man and lured-in centre back Iliyan Stoyanov. The defender looked to have conceded a throw, not a free-kick, but Hunt picked himself up and swung in an inviting free kick that was glanced-on by O’Shea and finished at the back post by Dunne.

Such a good start for the home side would usually result in an immediate response from the visitors, and although Bulgaria controlled possession in the aftermath, they created little in front of goal.

With three men working in behind Dimitar Rangelov, and the duo of Stilian Petrov and Stanislav Angelov as back up, they looked to pick their way between Dunne and O’Shea but had little success.

Petrov was first to try his luck in response but Shay Given saved comfortably to concede a corner.

Croatian referee Ivan Bebek was a little harsh in his decision to book left back Zhivko Milanov after he surged inside Paul McShane and collided with Keith Andrews in the box.

The Blackburn player made contact and the Bulgarian appeared eager to hit the deck. However, minutes later Milanov required attention and was replaced by Radostin Kisishev.

The home side offered little thereafter. Inaccurate passes and poor control let Trapattoni’s side down time and time again, which all too often presented Bulgaria with easy possession.

A late call was made to include Aiden McGeady, who had been suffering from a bruised foot, and the Celtic winger struggled to get involved and found little support from McShane on the overlap.

Parity should have been restored in the 27th minute when right back Stanislav Manolev ghosted past hunt and played a neat one-two to get in behind Kilbane. His pass was precise but the 15 yard shot from Blagoy didn’t trouble Given.

Kilbane was again exposed when he let a cross from the channel drop over his head, only for it to find the feet of Angelov, who cut back for Rangelov but the forward shot wastefully over the bar.

Velizar Ddimitrov was introduced at the break for Ivelin Popov and immediately played closer to Rangelov in a bid to get back into the game. However, the homeside, chastened no doubt by a stern talking to, were more precise early in the second period.

Captain Robbie Keane got his first sight of goal when latching on to Doyle’s knockdown but Dimitar Ivankov cleared the close range effort.

Stanimir Stoilov used his final substitution when Dimitar Makriev replaced Georgiev in the 66th minute.

McGeady should have put the game out of sight after Hunt’s cross was poorly parried by Ivankov. The goalkeeper recovered well, however, to deflect the winger’s measured shot.

The miss was to prove costly when, 16 minutes from time, Kilbane was caught underneath Kisishev’s floated ball from just inside the Irish half. The Hull City defender turned to deflect Petrov’s cross to safety but only succeeded in directing it past Given.

As the visitors celebrated with a small pocket of travelling support, a roar went up from the remainder of the 60,002 fans present and, after a brief stoppage for a head injury to Dunne, a brilliant raking ball from McGeady to Keane sent the skipper in behind the defence.

The Spurs man cut back inside Manolev but his curling shot to the back post was wide of the mark.

It was to be McGeady’s last contribution after a knock left the winger hobbling and Trapattoni acted quickly to replace him with Andy Keogh .

With four minutes of added time there was one last push and the best move of the game was created when Andrews ran onto Hunt’s ball and turned to stand one up for Doyle, but the Reading striker’s header was too close to Ivankov.

With it went the chance of joining Italy at the top of the group and the opportunity to put Bulgaria out of sight.

Republic of Ireland: Given, McShane, Dunne, O'Shea , Kilbane, McGeady (Keogh 82), Whelan, Andrews, S Hunt, Keane (capt), Doyle.

Subs: Delaney, Kiely, N Hunt, Gibson, Kelly, Keogh, Folan

Bulgaria: Ivannkov, Stoyanov, Tomasic, Angelov, Petrov (capt), Popov (Ddimitrov 45), Manolev, Georgiev (Makriev 66), Milanov (Kishishev 24), Telkiyski, Rangelov.

Subs: Petkov, Kishishev, Ddimitrov, Yankov, Makriev, Todorov, Topuzakov