“Game on”, says Given as target of six points achieved

IT was Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given who summed up the overriding feeling of his team-mates last night having collected maximum points from their summer Euro 2004 qualifiers.

Brian Kerr’s side’s assured 2-0 victory over Georgia at Lansdowne Road, hot on the heels of Saturday’s scrambled 2-1 win against Albania, placed Ireland’s fate in reaching next year’s finals in Portugal firmly back in their own hands and Given said: “We couldn’t really ask for anything more; that’s six points from the two games and now it’s game on. We’re all delighted.

“It was a great atmosphere and I think the night games help us as well. When it gets dark, it always adds to the atmosphere.”