Given ready for play-off challenge

Shay Given has promised the Republic of Ireland’s play-off opponents they will give them a fight whoever they are.

Keeper Given and his defence were unable to extend their record of successive clean sheets to nine games last night, but Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s 62nd-minute strike proved only a consolation as Ireland ran out 2-1 victors over Armenia at the Aviva Stadium to finish second in Group B and secure their place in the Euro 2012 shoot-out.