Rep of Ireland B 2 - 0 Nottingham Forest

The Republic of Ireland "B" team put in an impressive display on Thursday night at Dalymount Park, defeating Nottingham Forest of the English Championship by two goals to nil. Caleb Folan got the scoring underway midway through the first half, and Andy Keogh added the second just after the hour mark.

The Irish eleven that took to the field actually differed from what was announced earlier. Darren Potter made way for Darren Gibson, and upfront Anthony Stokes was preferred to Reading's Shane Long. The Forest side had just five players that started their last league game.

It was Gibson that had the games first striker at goal, a thirty five yard thunderbolt that wasn't far off target. Andy Keogh was then on the receiving end of a particularly brutish challenge from Forrest's Mark Byrne.

Gibson was then involved in a clever piece of play after fourteen minutes. The Derry born Manchester United player, currently on loan with Wolves, linked up well with Stokes, who then released full back Kevin Foley. Foley's cross was punched clear by keeper Paul Smith, and Gibson had another pop at goal, this time testing the keeper with a powerful drive.

Hull City front man Folan was showing some deft touches, he flicked on a long ball into the path of Stokes, but the former Shelbourne underage player shot straight at Smith from fifteen yards.

Another former Shels man, Wes Hoolahan, then whipped in two dangerous corners. The first was driven with the outside of his left foot, swerving out then in, making in nearly impossible to defend. The second was more routine, with Darren O'Dea getting his head to it, but Forest then cleared from the six yard line.

Forest's best move in the opening twenty minutes involved Chris Cohen, and Andrew Cole. Initially the interplay was quick and slick, but Cohen's touch then let him down.

Ireland took the lead after twenty four minutes. Hoolahan was involved, feeding Stokes who had lost his marker. Strokes then played a simple ball through the heart of the visitors defence, that the impressive Folan latched on to, showing great pace. Still with it all left to do, he coolly finished from just inside the box, stroking the ball into the corner of the net.

Keogh was showing a great willingness to work hard on the right hand side of the front three, never neglecting his defensive duties, and looking dangerous whenever in possession.

The remainder of the first half after the goal was a quieter affair, with neither side pressing the other too much.

It seems that perhaps Trapattoni had seen enough of Folan in the opening forty five minutes to convince him that he was worthy of a call up to the senior squad. Along with Hoolahan and keeper Joe Murphy, the tall striker was replaced at the start of the second half.

One of the half time replacements, Blackburn's Keith Treacy, released former Bohemians man Stephen Ward down the left wing. The converted full back crossed well, and it was Treacy's Blackburn team mate Andrews that the ball eventually came to, but his quick shot from the edge of the box went agonisingly wide of the upright. Treacy then had a tame shot himself on the hour mark.

Two minutes after that, Ireland were two up through a goal made, and scored, by Keogh. The Wolves man, already with eight senior appearances and one goal, held on to possession in the centre, before bringing Shane Long into play on the right wing. Long curled in an early cross, and found Keogh unmarked at the front post, where he swept the ball into the net with a neat first touch finish.

Captain Alex Bruce left the action injured after seventy five minutes, and with no substitutes left, Ireland where forced to play out the remainder of the game with just nine outfield players.

In the last ten minutes of the game Ireland were still looking to attack. Substitute Sean Scannell showed his pace on a couple of occasions on the right, and also had a shot deflected for a corner after he cut inside his man with ease on the edge of the box.

Forest's second half chances were few and far between. Matt Thornhill had a weak shot easily saved by Kieran Westwood. Thornhill came close to finding Joe Garner in the box, but the ball had just a little too much pace on it for the substitute. A back header from O'Dea looked like it might embarrass the Celtic centre back, but it went narrowly wide of the angle of post and crossbar.

Images are courtesy of Gary Fox, Freelance Photojournalist who's work can be found at www.garyfox.ie or alternatively http://www.flickr.com/photos/gfox/

Republic of Ireland - Murphy (Westwood 45) , Foley, Ward (Garvan 69), O'Dea (Nolan 59), Bruce, Gibson (Rowlands 55), Keogh (Scannell 63), Andrews (Potter 55), Folan (Long 45), Stokes, Hoolahan (Treacy 45).

Nottingham Forest - Smith, Lynch (Heath 70), Chambers, Breckin, Perch, Byrne, Thornhill, Davies, Cohen (Newbold 63), Martin (Reid 70), Cole (Garner 45). Subs not used - Wilson,Sinclair, Richardson