Two for Keane as Ireland hit five

The Republic of Ireland last night cruised to a 5-0 victory against a semi-pro Tuscan selection in a low-key warm-up in Pistoia, a town about 15km from the squad’s training camp in Montecatini.

Robbie Keane opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a fine left-footed shot and Simon Cox made it two 10 minutes later when he struck on the rebound after a superb Stephen Hunt cross. In the very next attack, Keane scored again after being put in by Cox, the Irish skipper then leaving the action at half-time.

Some of Trapattoni’s first-choice regulars were on from the off last night — among them Richard Dunne, Sean St Ledger and Keith Andrews, as well as Keane — while there were also starts for Paul McShane, Stephen Hunt, Paul Green and Simon Cox and another outing for James McClean.

At the start of the second half, David Forde, Shane Long and Jon Walters all entered the fray and there was a valedictory appearance by Kevin Foley as Trapattoni rotated his line-up. Darron Gibson and Stephen Ward followed, as did more goals from Long and Walters.

Proceeds from the game were donated to charity in memory of Piermario Morosini, who died after suffering a cardiac arrest playing for Livorno last month.

Ireland starting XI: Westwood, McShane, Dunne, St Ledger, Kelly, Hunt, Green, Andrews, McClean, Cox, Keane.