- Dave Donnelly
- Mon, Sep 07 2015
Jonathan Walters' seventh international goal kept Irish dreams of European qualification in their own hands as the Republic of Ireland overcame Georgia by a solitary goal at the Aviva Stadium, but all plaudits were reserved for Jeff Hendrick's role in the build-up to the second-half strike.
Hendrick was the only member of the Irish eleven to begin the second half not at a Premier League club, but he's unlikely to remain tethered to the second tier if he continues to produce moments like the one that led to Walters' decisive goal.
The Derby County midfielder showed skill and determination to first skin the impressive right-back Ucha Lobzhanidze and then poke the ball under the covering tackle of Solomon Kverkveli before squaring for Walters, who could hardly miss from two yards.
Ireland started brightly, as Hendrick – entrusted with a third successive start on the left of a narrow midfield diamond – had a volley charged down within two minutes.
A wild swoop from Robbie Brady that led to Georgia's first corner was, however, more indicative of the how the home side would play out an anxious first half in front of a flat crowd of 27,100.
Martin O'Neill's decision to stick with record goalscorer Robbie Keane alongside Walters – perhaps with a mind to his second-half double the last time the sides met here in 2009 – should have been rewarded when the LA Galaxy striker was picked out by Wes Hoolahan but, leaning back, he stabbed his shot over the bar.
A fortuitous deflection off left-back Giorgi Navalosky broke for Levan Mchedlidze in the box, and it was only a magnificent block from Ciaran Clark that prevented the Empoli striker from firing the ball past Shay Given.
The same player was to the fore again moments later as he used his pace to breeze past John O'Shea and into the box, but from a tight angle he shot weakly and Ireland were once again let off the hook, as they were again when Tomike Okriashvili failed to properly connect with a bicycle kick.
Seamus Coleman recorded Ireland's sole effort on target in the first half as he brought a routine save out of Revishvili to send the home side in at the break having been outplayed, but they upped the tempo considerably in the second half.
O'Neill's re-energised charges went close through Glenn Whelan and Hoolahan – while it took an outstanding defensive header from Zurab Khizanishvili to deny Walters from Brady's cross – before the Stoke City striker finally broke the tension with a well-taken finish.
Long – introduced at half-time for a frustrated Keane – should have doubled Ireland's advantage shortly afterwards in an almost identical situation minutes later as James McClean crossed after Glenn Whelan pressed and dispossessed a Georgian defender before selflessly offloading to the Derryman, but Long missed the ball entirely.
Whelan picked up a yellow card for dissent – his third of the campaign – which will rule him out of the crucial home tie with Germany, and he will be badly missed as he was the outstanding player on the field against Georgia.
McClean will also miss the Germany game after picking up his third yellow for a fearsome tackle seconds after his introduction in the second-half, but he had a noticeably positive effect on the tempo of Ireland's play in the closing stages.
The West Brom winger's rasping shot in injury time forced a fine save from Revishvili, but a second goal wasn't required as Ireland closed out the game in comfortable fashion to ensure their qualification prospects remain in their own hands going into the final pair of games.
Republic of Ireland: Shay Given; Robbie Brady; John O'Shea, Ciaran Clarke, Seamus Coleman; Glenn Whelan, James McCarthy, Jeff Hendrick, Wes Hoolahan (James McClean 75); Jonathan Walters, Robbie Keane (Shane Long 46).
Subs not used: David Forde (gk), Darren Randolph (gk), Marc Wilson, Cyrus Christie, Stephen Ward, Richard Keogh, Aiden McGeady, David Meyler, Stephen Quinn, Kevin Doyle.
Booked: Glenn Whelan (74), James McClean (76)
Georgia: Nukri Revishvili; Giorgi Navalosky, Aleksandre Amishulashvili, Solomon Kverkvelia, Ucha Lobzhanidze; Guram Kashia (Mate Tsinsadze 76), Valeri Kazaishvili (Giorgi Papanushvili), Zurab Khizanishvili (Levan Kenia 81), Tornike Okriashvili; Levan Mchedlidze.
Subs not used: Giorgi Loria (gk), Girogi Makaridze (gk), Otar Kakabadze, Giorgi Popkhadze, Giorgi Merebashvili, Bachana Tskhadadze, Mate Vatsadze, Murtaz Daushvili.
Booked: None.
Referee: Istvan Vad (Hungary).
Attendance: 27,100.
Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Glenn Whelan (Republic of Ireland).
