Ireland's World Cup dream ends in cruellest of fashions

France 1 Ireland 1

Ireland's dream of World Cup qualification was shattered in the 15th minute of added time at the Stade de France in Paris this evening as a handball by Thierry Henry set up William Gallas to find the net.

Ireland had stepped up to the mark on the night with a 32nd-minute strike by captain Robbie Keane putting the boys in green in front.

However Gallas' goal gave the French the win on aggregate, Les Bleus having come into the game with a 1-0 lead from the first playoff leg in Croke Park last Saturday.