Green and Keane set up record Trap win

Republic of Ireland 3 Algeria 0

And if the final result flattered Ireland a little bit, the Italian won’t be complaining as he saw his team end a long season with two wins on the bounce before they start turning their attentions to the much more serious business of European Championship qualification in the Autumn.

It might have been an end of season friendly for the home contingent but Algeria’s Irish community begged to differ, turning up in force to create a bank of noise and colour at the Simmonscourt Road, as nearly 3,000 of their supporters made the most of the opportunity to give their national heroes a proper World Cup send-off.

But they didn’t forget all about us, as they carried a banner up the Merrion Road and into the RDS which declared: “Ireland should be at the World Cup.” My suggestion for a witty response – “And so should Egypt” – was mysteriously voted down.

Among the other less excitable spectators in attendance were Dick Advocaat, the new manager of the Russian side that Ireland will meet in the European Championship qualifiers and Fabio Capello’s right-hand man Franco Baldini, checking out England’s World Cup group opponents. The latter, it’s fair to say, will hardly have left quaking in his boots.

But for most in the home crowd and, you suspect, on the Irish bench, the focus of attention was split between debutant Greg Cunningham on the left-side of the back four and Derby’s Paul Green who was getting only his second cap and his first start as a replacement in central midfield for Keith Andrews.

An early well-judged ball that put Kevin Doyle away up the left bore testimony to Cunningham’s ability to help instigate attacking moves and, with most of what passed for Algeria’s threat coming down Ireland’s right flank, he was not overly taxed with what he had to defensively. There was one rush of blood to the head when he skied a ball in the box but luckily it dropped into the welcoming hands of Keiren Westwood who was generally impressive in his handling.

For Green, though, it was a full debut to remember, as his brave, diving header from a Liam Lawrence ball into the box gave Ireland the lead on the 30-minute mark. Impressive on his first appearance as a sub against Paraguay, the midfielder took up where he left off on Tuesday, covering the ground, using the ball well and ever willing to drop back to help out his defence.

Algeria have a reputation for blowing hot and cold – they beat Egypt in their World Cup play-off only to be tonked four-nil by the same opposition in the African Cup of Nations – but, with places to play for in South Africa, we might have expected a bit more zip from them to go with their occasionally neat, passing patterns.

The goal apart, neither side came close to lifting affairs above the pedestrian in a scrappy first half pock-marked by regular blows of the referee’s whistle, repeated offside flags against the visitors and a couple of pitch invaders.

Worryingly too, John O’Shea was forced off injured to be replaced by Darren O’Dea who, even as he was still settling in, would have been thankful to Sean St Ledger for bailing him out with a great rescuing tackle when the Celtic man was looking in vain for the offside flag.

However, Ireland doubled their advantage six minutes after the restart, when the wobbly Chaouchi flapped at a cross and Robbie Keane was on hand to hook the ball over the stranded keeper and a defender for his 42nd goal on his 99th cap.

Suddenly we realised we were on the brink of history, just as we were against Paraguay on Tuesday. Ireland under Trap have never won a game by two goals or more so it seemed odds on that, again, like Tuesday, the visitors would be invited to spoil the fun.

But not so. Inside the space of two minutes just past the hour mark, and with the Algerians seemingly incapable of dealing with the routine long ball into their box, Keane was denied first by a good save from Chaouchi and then from close range by the post, as Ireland’s skipper briefly threatened to run riot.

And that it was definitely Ireland’s night was confirmed when, with Algeria having just hit the bar with an Abdoun header, Ireland went straight up the other end and, after he was charitably awarded a penalty despite defender Mesbah clearly getting the ball, Keane calmly made it three from the penalty spot and 43 as Ireland’s all-time leading scorer.

After that, there was just enough time for olé’s all around, as the Irish fans wished their men a happy holiday and the Algerian supporters began dreaming, perhaps fancifully, about hopefully better to come in South Africa.

Subs for Ireland: O’Dea for O’Shea, 36; Fahey for Duff, 65; Sheridan for Doyle, 71; Andrews for Whelan, 74; Long for Lawrence, 87.

Subs for Algeria: Saifi for Djebbour, 58; Mbholi for Chaouchi, Boudebouz for Mansouri, Kadir for Belhadj, 67; Abdoun for Ghezzal, 76.