A stroll but one with landmarks aplenty

Republic of Ireland 4 Georgia 0

For one thing, there was Robbie Keane coming off the bench to equal Shay Given’s caps total of 125 and then, just because that’s what he does, scoring on the double to bring his outstanding goal haul for his country to 56. And, for another, there was Richard Dunne also coming off the bench, only in his case to win a gruelling personal battle by ending his year-long exile from the football pitch.

And even though, the anticipated small attendance — officially given as 20,100 — meant this felt more like The Scattering than The Gathering at the Aviva, the day also had real significance for the likes of Shane Long, captaining his country for the first time, along with Wes Hoolahan and Richard Keogh, both of whom were making their first starts at international level. It also turned out to be a landmark occasion for Stephen Quinn who belatedly got to make his senior debut for his country as a substitute.

But, with a World Cup qualifier against the Faroe Islands next up and, bearing in mind that James McCarthy will be suspended for that game, perhaps the Irish player who could have most reason to be grateful for yesterday’s modest match is Hoolahan.

The Norwich schemer was at the heart of everything good about Ireland’s performance, while his willingness to back up his creativity with a hard-working shift will hopefully not have been lost on Giovanni Trapattoni.

Following a warm tribute on the part of players and crowd for the late Tony Grealish, the action — if that’s not too strong a word — got under way in almost balmy conditions in Dublin 4, the monochrome feel of the day accentuated by the fact that it was Ireland’s all-blacks facing the all-whites of Georgia.

It began with a slightly nervous moment for Keiren Westwood, caught in no-man’s land outside his box, as the visitors bossed the opening phase with an extended period of unhurried keep ball, the home side entirely lacking in the urgency needed to energise the small crowd. Sleepy might be the most charitable word for it.

But with Hoolahan showing well for the ball from the off, Ireland began to emerge from their slumber after 10 minutes, Marc Wilson and Simon Cox both sending efforts over the Georgian crossbar.

Then, in the 14th minute, Shane Long should really have opened the scoring. Taking advantage of some hesitant defending, he activated the after-burner, turning Akaki Khubutia inside out as he drove into the box. Unfortunately, having done the hard bit, the West Brom man then found he couldn’t get the better of ‘keeper Giorgi Loria, and was left kicking the post in frustration at his failure to make it two goals in two games for his country.

But the greater misfortune awaited Loria the next time he faced Long one on one, the Georgian paying the ultimate price as he upended the striker just outside the box after the latter had latched on to a woefully under-hit back pass. Despite the friendly nature of the occasion, the Romanian referee showed no leniency, a red card reducing Georgia to 10 men and meaning substitute keeper Omar Migineishvili’s first job was to do well to tip over James McClean’s measured free kick.

With James McCarthy and the buzzing Hoolahan now making the most of the extra space in midfield, and Marc Wilson increasingly getting forward to join the attack, Ireland looked set to take complete control. Yet, it wasn’t until four minutes from the interval before a fairly routine set-piece put them ahead, McClean’s inswinging free kick converted with a downward header by Richard Keogh, the Derby man claiming his first goal for his country on just his second appearance.

In the second half, there were plenty of changes on both sides, but the traffic was almost all one-way once Ireland had gone two up barely two minutes after the restart. Hoolahan’s pass inside the full back was exquisite and from McClean’s low cross the unmarked Simon Cox was able to find the net from a narrow angle at the far post.

Yet another sublime through ball from Hoolahan put Long in again in the 57th minute but this time the striker was denied by the substitute ‘keeper. Happily, there was much more for the home fans to cheer about seven minutes later when, to as massive an ovation as the small crowd could muster, Dunne finally returned to the fray. It was probably the perfect reintroduction for the big man as the Irish defence was scarcely forced to extend itself in the second half but, still, his every touch — barring one understandably rusty pass — was deservedly cheered to the echo.

That said, it was Dunne’s old buddy Robbie Keane who stole the show for the remainder of the game, first tapping into an empty net after being set up by Conor Sammon in the 76th minute and then rounding off the scoring by coolly sliding the ball past the Georgian ‘keeper following a terrific interception, run and pass from the impressive Jeff Hendrick.

A nice, uncomplicated and rewarding day for Ireland, then — more of the same against the Faroes next Friday would not go amiss.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Westwood 6, McShane 5, Delaney 6, Keogh 7, Wilson 7 (Dunne 7, 64), Keogh 5 (Keane 8, 45), Hoolahan 8 (Quinn 6, 75), McCarthy 7 (Hendrick 7, 70) McClean 7 (McGeady 6, 64), Cox 6, Long 7 (Sammon 6, 70).

GEORGIA: Loria 5, Kvirkvelia 5 (Podkhadze 5, 68) Khizanishvili 5, Khubutia 5, Lobjanidze 5 (Targamadze 5, 45), Kashia 5, Ananidze 5 (Migineishvili 5, 21), Daushvili 5 (Dzaria 6, 53), Kankava 6, Kobakhidze 7 (Gorgiashvili 90), Gelashvili 5 (Maisvradze 5, 60).

Referee: Sebastian Coltescu (Romania)