SOCCER/Republic of Ireland v Czech Republic: Just one point then for a team needing three to revive their slender hopes of qualification but the ones that got away troubled neither the players nor the packed house last night at Lansdowne Road where the stated aim of restoring the Irish team's dented pride was restored, writes Emmet Malone at Lansdowne Road
Expectations among the home support prior to kick off were surely as low as at any time during the past couple of decades but the sense that the fans wanted this side to blow away the storm clouds that had been gathering in the aftermath of Saturday's humiliation in Cyprus was unmistakable in the minutes before the game got underway.
For the time being at least they certainly managed that, for with the crowd behind them in a way that was reminiscent of some of the very greatest nights here, Steve Staunton's men rose to the occasion magnificently. Over the 90 minutes they were manifestly the better of the two sides and more than earned their draw, showing not only the sort of pride and passion that might have been expected from a group whose backs were to the wall but also a little more cunning and creativity than one of the best teams in Europe.
The Czechs didn't play poorly but they were simply never allowed to play well. Such was the quality of the collective performance on the Irish that it is hard to pick out individuals, although Paul McShane did turn in one the great Ireland international debuts and a string of the big names who failed to produce the required goods in Nicosia made amends here.
For the two minutes that followed Kevin Kilbane's stunning goal a little over an hour in it even seemed that the Republic might secure their biggest win since the Dutch were beaten here almost five years ago.
And to Staunton, universally maligned for getting it so badly wrong in two of Ireland's three games, must go much of the credit, for as limited as his options were his instincts proved well founded here, with players everywhere in a dramatically reshaped side revelling in the roles handed to them and, one presumes, the opportunity to silence their many critics.
Inexperienced trio Wayne Henderson, Stephen Kelly and particularly McShane all made bright starts to what was, from the off, an open and exhilarating contest.
Henderson had surprisingly little to do in the opening half. While Petr Cech had to make two good stops to keep the sides level, the 23-year-old was largely untroubled thanks, in no small part, to the outstanding work of the debutant centre half.
Though he later proved powerless to prevent Jan Koller scoring the equalising goal, McShane alerted us early on to the fact that this night be a special for him. Twice in the opening minutes he scored unlikely victories over his man in the air and when the towering Monaco striker took the battle to ground level the young Dubliner quickly showed he could hold his own there.
His best moment of the match, though, came after 41 minutes when Tomas Rosicky's pass looked perfectly placed for Koller. McShane, however, had timed his tackle to perfection and his interception prompted a tremendous roar of approval from the crowd.
From the corner that followed the Czechs came close to opening the scoring, with Koller being foiled by Henderson's instinctive save before Lee Carsley completed the clearance.
At left full, Kelly was, like McShane, enjoying a night to remember, showing shrewd judgement and determination.
In midfield Carsley more than justified Staunton's decision to relent and call him into the squad on Monday night. The Everton player was a hugely influential figure for the home side, winning a succession of important challenges to upset the rhythm of the Czechs and then using the ball with quiet efficiency to release Irish players around him.
Beside him in central midfield Jonathan Douglas worked flat out, darting forward in support of Keane and Andy Reid whenever the chance arose and then chasing back tirelessly every time the need arose.
The two front men, meanwhile, were lively enough to cause the Czech defence constant problems, with Reid, prior to being replace by Alan Quinn 71 minutes in, proving effective while Keane produced his best display in some time in the role of lone striker.
The Irish goal, though, came from Kilbane, whose finish, after Duff beat his man and produced another teasing low cross, was emphatic. It was only his sixth goal in 74 appearances but it was the sweetest of strikes with the 29-year-old driving fiercely home from around eight yards.
Briefly the win seemed possible but the Czechs produced the perfect response. For the only time in the night Koller got the better of McShane, the big striker spinning around his young marker after taking Rosicky's ball at his feet and then driving a low diagonal shot past Henderson and into the bottom left corner.
It was a cruel blow to the pair of young Irishmen and one every member of the team worked hard to bounce back from. Keane spurned a glorious late chance when he failed to convert a header from six yards which would have yielded two precious extra points. They are likely to view the draw, though, as much as the manner in which it was achieved, as victory enough in the circumstances.
Rep of Ireland ... 1 Kilbane 62 Czech Republic ... 1 Koller 64 Attendance: 35,500
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Henderson (Brighton); Finnan (Liverpool), McShane (West Brom), O'Shea (Manchester Utd), Kelly (Birmingham City); Duff (Newcastle Utd), Douglas (Leeds Utd), Carsley (Everton), Kilbane (Wigan Ath); A Reid (Charlton Ath); Keane (Tottenham). Subs: Quinn (Sheffield Utd) for Reid, 71 mins), Alan O'Brien (Newcastle Utd) for Kilbane (79 mins).
CZECH REPUBLIC: Cech; Ujfalusi, Jiranek, Rozehnal, Jankulovski; Plasil, Rosicky, Kovac, Polak; Koller, Baros. Subs: Jarolim for Baros (82 mins), Grygera for Plasil (85).
Referee: B Layec (France)
