Republic of Ireland 4 - 0 Georgia

The Republic of Ireland warmed up for their forthcoming World Cup qualifier with the Faroe Islands  with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Georgia at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday evening. Goals from Richard Keogh, Simon Cox and a Robbie Keane  double gave Giovanni Trapattoni's side the win.
 

It was a tentative start by the Irish in front of a sparsely populated crowd and Georgia nearly took the lead in the third minute. Striker Nicolas Gelashvili chased a long pass forward towards the edge of the penalty area. Kieran Westwood came a long way off his line and failed to get there. Gelashvili tried his luck from a narrow angle. The ball went across the goal and narrowly missed the target. That was to prove to be the visitors only meaningful chance of the night.
 

Left back Marc Wilson had Ireland's first effort on goal in the 11th minute. He cut in from the left hand side and tried a shot with his right foot but his effort was well off target. Shortly afterwards Andy Keogh's right footed cross was headed over the top by captain Shane Long.
 

Long should have put his side in front in the 15th minute. Both Georgia centre backs Akaki Khubutia and Zurab Khizanishvili hesitated from a throw in and Ireland's captain for the day gathered possession. He raced towards goal and only had goalkeeper Giorgi Loria to beat but Loria dived low to his right to keep out the shot. Long kicked the post in frustration.

The Tipperary man was involved again in the 20th minute. He chased down an under hit back-pass from right back Ucha Lobjanidze and tried to flick the ball around Loria but the Georgia goalkeeper fouled Long and with no covering defender. Romanian referee Sebastian Conatantin Coltescu had little choice but to sent the keeper off.

James McClean took the resultant free-kick and almost scored. The ball looked to be heading in but substitute goalkeeper Omar Migineishvili dived to his right and produced an excellent save to turn it away for a corner.
 

Long had another shot on goal which just shaved the post soon after but the home team did not dominate as expected despite the extra man advantage and Georgia became more comfortable as the half went on.
 

That was until the 41st minute. Akaki Khubutian fouled  Long on the right hand side and was subsequently booked. McClean swung the resultant free-kick with his left foot into the six yard box and Richard Keogh rose highest to head it into the net for his first goal for Ireland, to insure that the home team would go in with a slender lead at halftime.
 

Ireland doubled their lead in the 48th minute. Wes Hoolahan, who improved as the game went on, played a lovely ball in behind the Georgia defence and found James McClean. McClean played it across goal and found the onrushing Simon Cox. Cox's  shot went into the net off Dato Kvirkveila.
 

Shane Long was denied again in the 58th minute. After Robbie Keane won the ball back in midfield, Hoolahan found himself in space and played another precise pass in behind the defence. Ireland's number nine looked certain to score but was denied by another fine save from Migineishvili.

Significantly in the 65th minute Richard Dunne came on to replace the impressive Marc Wilson, to make his first appearance for Ireland in almost a year. Dunne's introduction drew one of the biggest cheers of the night.

The flow of the second half was definitely interrupted by the numerous substitutions which both managers made. It was one of these substitutes who made the mistake which led to Ireland's third goal in the 77th minute. Irakli Dzaria played the ball straight to Aiden McGeady. McGeady's pass found Conor Sammon and the Derby County striker crossed for Robbie Keane who had the simple task of putting the ball into the empty net for his 55th goal for his country.
 

Keane made it 4-0 in the 88th minute. This time Zurab Khizanishvili was guilty of giving the ball away in his own half. Jeff Hendrick picked up the loose pass and eventually played it to his left to the LA Galaxy striker who side-footed into the net for his 56th Irish goal.
 

Wes Hoolahan's impressive performance in the second half in particular will certainly give the manager plenty to think about. James McClean, who also had a fine game on the left hand side of midfield may also push for a starting place on Friday. Georgia barely threatened the Irish goal all evening and it was as comfortable a win as Trapattoni could have hoped for before next week's qualifier.

 

Republic of Ireland: Kieran Westwood: Paul McShane, Richard Keogh, Damien Delaney, Marc Wilson (Richard Dunne 65): Andy Keogh (Robbie Keane 46), James McCarty (Conor Sammon 72), Wes Hoolahan (Stephen Quinn 76), James McClean (Aiden McGeady 65): Simon Cox, Shane Long (Jeff Hendrick 72).
Subs not used: Darren Randloph, Seamus Coleman, Stephen Kelly, Glenn Whelan, Jeff Hendrick, David Meyler.

Georgia: Giorgi Loria: Ucha Lobjanidze (David Targamadze 46), Akaki Khubutia, Zurab Khizanishvilli, Dato Kvirkvelia (George Podkhadze 69): Alexander Kobakhidze, Jaba Kankava (c) Guram Kashia,  Murtaz Daushvilli (Irakli Dzaria 54): Jano Ananidze (Omar Migineishvili 22): Nicholas Gelashvilli (Irakli Maisvradze 61).
Subs not used: Gulverd Tomashvili, Solomon Kverkvella, Mamula Kobakhidze, Irakli Maisvradze, Merab Gigauri, David Devdariani, Tornike Gorgiashvili.
Booked: Akaki Khubutia (41), Jaba Kankava (69).
Sent-off: Giorgi Loria (20)


Referee: Sebastian Constantin Coltescu (Romania)
Attendance: 20,000 estimate.
Extratime.ie man of the match: Wes Hoolahan.