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.