The Geography of The Republic Of Ireland

Ireland 3-1 Andorra

Kevin Kilbane isn't known for his goalscoring prowess, especially since moving to a defensive role with age, but his header on Tuesday to break the early deadlock was his third against Andorra in as many competitive matches.

Liam Lawrence telegraphed a delighted corner kick towards the near post on 14 minutes which the left-back met with a beautiful header to glide in the opener of a 3-1 victory.

Ireland 2-3 Russia

Group favourites Russia had a firm handle on this Euro 2012 qualifier against the Republic of Ireland by leading 3-0 after 50 minutes at the Aviva Stadium but Ireland battled back late on to give the visitors a scare.

Robbie Keane's spinning cross had clipped the crossbar on seven minutes but the visitors claimed the initiative with Kerzhakov's opener and doubled their advantage on 28 minutes following a flowing move.

Kerzhakov was first to react when Ireland failed to deal with a free-kick from the left and he swept the ball home inside the six yard box.

It was 2-0 on 28 minutes as full-back Anyukov bombed down the right flank and delivered a low cross which Kerzhakov's dummied to allow Alan Dzagoev drill a first time shot past Shay Given.

Ireland showed glimpses of a recovery as the first half drew to a close with Aiden McGeady particularly lively but equally the Russians had the measure of the home defence with a total of ten attempts on goal in the opening 45 minutes.

It got worse for Ireland five minutes after the restart when Russia plundered their third in fortuitous circumstances.

Shirokov was afforded too much freedom to advance from midfield and his long punt deflected off Richard Dunne's shin to completely wrong-foot a stranded Given.

Giovanni Trapattoni has introduced three substitutes as the game enters its final twenty minutes with Shane Long, Darron Gibson and Keith Fahey on for Liam Lawrence, Glenn Whelan and Kevin Doyle.

Robbie Keane pulled one back from the penalty spot with 18 minutes remaining after Yuri Zhirkov was adjudged to have brought the 'Spurs man down in the box.

Substitute Shane Long has given Ireland further hope by reducing the arrears by stabbing home a rebound from McGeady's saved shot.

However, despite Richard Dunne being thrust into attack for the latter stages, the Boys in Green were unable to finish the job with an equaliser in the four minutes of stoppage time.

Ireland 1-1 Slovakia

The Republic of Ireland were left to bemoan lost opportunities after this drawn match in Group B of the UEFA 2012 qualifying tournament in Zilina where Slovakia came from behind to salvage a point. Ireland looked capable of recovering ground lost to Russia on Friday when they played themselves into a dominant role with a measured and mature first half performance. But circumstances and the quirky swings of fortune conspired to frustrate Ireland and deny them a win which was clearly within their capability. And to compound their misfortune, miles away in Skopje good fortune smiled on Russia as they picked up a vital win to stretch ahead at the top of the group.

Shane Long, a vibrant and powerful force up front for Ireland as replacement for the injured Kevin Doyle, afterwards spoke of the sense of disappointment in the Irish dressing-room. But he was philosophical as he acknowledged that Slovakia's second half recovery meant a draw was a good result for Ireland.

Overall Ireland offered huge encouragement to their fans and to their prospects of qualifying for the UEFA 2012 Championship finals in Poland/Ukraine by the manner in which they stepped up the scope and standard of their play from Friday's loss to Russia. They were back in tune with the tempo of their World Cup performances as they worked hard to disrupt Slovakia in the first half and used the ball constructively and calmly to process their familiar game plan.

A couple of players were central to this four-day improvement so step up and take a bow Shane Long and Keith Fahey. They are two of Ireland's back-up players and they thrived when offered the opportunity of illustrating the strength of their challenge to Ireland's regulars. Long brought a level of athleticism that offered a hostile threat to Slovakia's defence on two levels - his prodigious leap threatened their aerial security in the central positions and his pace stretched them repeatedly on the flanks. Fahey brought a welcome sense of calm and calculation to Ireland's play and showed huge confidence in possession. His constructive instincts helped Ireland expand their passing movements and his accurate use of the ball was a threat that hung over Slovakia's defence like a guillotine.

Above all Ireland's step up in performance was facilitated by their adherence to the basic principles that have marked the strides made on Giovanni Trapattoni's watch. And the fact that they failed to take maximum return from their investment was a regrettable misfortune. Ireland were full of invention and progressive football as they swept into a 16th minute lead. The goal came when Fahey spun a free from the right tantalisingly in the little gap between defenders and goalkeeper. The accurate delivery caused agitation in the penalty area and in the confusion the ball rebounded off Durica to where Sean St Ledger calmly stroked it low into the net from 18 yards.

Ireland had shown such a positive attitude from kick-off that Slovakia were clearly searching for an effective response. Their discomfort was reflected in the physical challenge they embraced with Long, especially, the victim of some harsh treatment. His immediate opponent, Durica, and midfielder Kucak racked up a growing volume of fouls as they sought to stem Ireland's progress. They were full of defiance and their competitive attitude yielded an equaliser in the 36th minute. Hamsik swung in a corner from the left that was flicked on from the near upright by Kucka and headed in from outside the far upright by Durica.

Ireland were not fazed, however, and their progressive football offered them the opportunity of tightening their control on the call of half-time when the speeding Aiden McGeady was brought down by goalkeeper Mucha. Robbie Keane, however, suffered the agony of seeing Mucha redeem himself by diving low to punch away the penalty. Keane's uncharacteristic failure to capitalise on such a glorious opportunity added weight to the argument that his form has suffered from the lack of regular football.

Minutes earlier, in the 40th, he had failed marginally to connect with a glorious low cross that Long drove across the six yard box and, sadly, Ireland's top goal-scorer did not enjoy a successful outing.
The cumulative effect of these set-backs appeared to take a toll of Ireland's confidence for they failed to reach the same heights in the second half. They never looked at risk of losing the game and again it was the unlucky Keane who lost the best chance of winning the game when he shot over after being set up by Kevin Kilbane in the 86th minute.

Sport's capacity to conjure up extraordinary irony was exemplified by the drama that was unfolding in Skopje simultaneously to the contest in Zilina. Russia were leading Macedonia 1-0 when the FYR Macedonia struck the crossbar and later failed to convert a penalty. Had both penalties in Zilina and Skopje been converted it is Ireland who would now lead the group. The point gained in Slovakia was a precious one for all that and the competition for qualification is growing in intensity.

Said Shane Long: "There is a little bit of disappointment in the dressing-room because the game was there for the taking. But this is a hard place to come to and they are one of our main rivals in the group and a point away from home isn't a bad result."

He acknowledged the physical nature of the game and said of the punishment he had shipped - "Yeah, I'm used to that at club level, defenders like to nut me in the back of the head and what have you, but I'm used to it and sometimes good things come from it.

"We were all saying if we can just get to half-time at 1-0 up and then come out in the second half and put them away. But we re-grouped and could have robbed it at the end but at the end of the day a draw was a good result."

Ireland will next play Norway in a friendly at the Aviva Stadium on November 17 and will be in competitive action again in the UEFA Championship when they play Macedonia at the Aviva Stadium on March 26 next.

Ireland will next play Norway in a friendly at the Aviva Stadium on November 17 and will be in competitive action again in the UEFA Championship when they play Macedonia at the Aviva Stadium on March 26 next.

Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	PTS
Russia	4	3	0	1	6	3	9
Republic of Ireland	4	2	1	1	7	5	7
Armenia	4	2	1	1	9	4	7
Slovakia	4	2	1	1	4	4	7
FYR Macedonia	4	1	1	2	4	4	4
Andorra	4	0	0	4	1	11	0