Kerr's charges make perfect start

Republic of Ireland 3 Cyprus 0

Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr’s demands were convincingly met as his side made the perfect start to their World Cup qualifying campaign.

Clinton Morrison led the Group Four triumph at Lansdowne Road by ending his personal international goal drought at a staggering 777 minutes, while man-of-the-match Andy Reid continued his emergence at this level with a strike of exquisite quality.

It was all topped off by Robbie Keane equalling Niall Quinn’s 21-goal record tally for the Irish with an early penalty in the second half at the end of which the scoreline should have been more flattering.

Kerr had stated before kick-off that he wanted fluidity and flexibility from his midfield, underlined in the 22nd minute when right-winger Reid delivered a curling cross from the left, with Morrison again the recipient, only for his diving header to fly into the arms of Nikos Panayiotou.

When Duff was felled again on the left, Konstantinos Charalambidis was awarded yellow, but the ensuing free-kick failed to find its mark.

It led to a Reid corner which eventually made its way to Manchester United left-back John O’Shea for an arrowing, angled drive from the corner of box which brought a clumsy, albeit effective save from Panayiotou.

A further corner followed, with the Reid-Morrison partnership coming close again.

Morrison’s downward header caught the side-netting after taking a slight deflection off Elias Charalambous for a further corner which came to nothing.

With Ireland dominating, Duff turned supplier on the half hour with a teasing cross to the far post for the awaiting Keane, but his miscued attempt at a volley drew groans rather than the expectant cheers.

When Kilbane struck the legs of Panayiotou with a close-range volley seconds later, as he latched onto a nicely-weighted free-kick from Kavanagh, it appeared as if it was going to be one of those frustrating days.

But the goal the Irish deserved finally arrived in the 32nd minute, with Morrison gaining his personal just reward with a glancing header from Duff’s left-wing cross, ending a year-long goal drought at international level – or 777 minutes of action.

The pressure was off, and if there had been a roof on Lansdowne Road, that would have followed five minutes later when Reid scored in his second successive game for the Republic, rifling a stunning 25-yard left-foot curler into the top right-hand corner.

The confidence of Kerr's team was soaring, as proven by Kilbane's attempt at a long-range screamer of his own shortly after the restart, albeit one which flew straight into the arms of Panayiotou.

Morrison should then have done better when presented with another sight of goal soon after, but he snatched at his 15-yard shot and fired high over the bar.

Then came a moment Keane and the fans had been waiting for, with the Spurs striker taking his Ireland goals tally to 21 – equalling Quinn’s record – as he stroked home a 56th-minute penalty after Duff had been tripped by Theodotou.

But Ireland, with their comfortable 3-0 lead, were almost caught napping at the back when Michael Konstantinou finally called Shay Given into action with a rising 12-yard shot which the Newcastle goalkeeper pushed wide in the 64th minute.

After Marios Ilia had replaced Elias Charalambous a minute later for the first of the game’s substitutions, it took a Panayiotou save with his legs to deny Duff the home side’s fourth following a surging run into the area.

Panayiotou again saved his side in the 72nd minute, spreading himself to deny Duff again in keeping out a left-foot half-volley from 15 yards.

Substitutions followed for the Irish, with Alan Maybury on for O’Shea and Morrison replaced by Alan Lee, who brought another fine stop from the AEK Athens goalkeeper five minutes from time.