Ireland pounce on mistakes

Rep of Ireland 2 Macedonia 1:There are, in truth, plenty of reasons for Giovanni Trapattoni to be happy after his side's fifth game of the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign. His team are joint top of Group B with Russia and Slovakia, three players successfully navigated their first competitive starts and, most importantly, he avoided 'a Macedonia'.

The visitors have dismantled campaigns in the past, in 1997 and 1999, but they were unable to do so again at the Aviva Stadium, though in a ragged second half anything could have happened. And there’s still a trip to Skopje to come.

The appearance of James McCarthy late in the game in place of Robbie Keane was another positive for the manager, ending speculation over his international future once and for all. However, the manner in which is side dealt with visitors of poor calibre, will privately be of concern to the manager, as will a serious looking injury to Kevin Doyle and the suspension of Richard Dunne for the game in Macedonia in June.

Had Macedonia had a goalkeeper of international standard, Ireland might never have found the breakthrough. As it transpired, Edin Nuredinoski gifted Aiden McGeady a goal inside two minutes and then spilled a Darron Gibson free-kick into the path of Keane to allow the homeside double the lead.

It was a first half in which Ireland looked fairly comfortable, until the stoke of halftime when Ivan Trickovski latched on to Goran Pandev’s ball into the box, turned inside Richard Dunne and slotted past Keiren Westwood.

Until then, they were restricted to long shots and hopeful crosses, with Darren O’Dea marshalling Pandev well through a mixture of well-timed tackles and a bit of niggle that threw the Inter Milan striker off his game.

McGeady’s well hit shot after he was found on the edge of the box by Doyle needed to be saved but Nuredinoski was too weak when diving low to the corner and the Spartak Moscow player reeled away in celebration of his first interntational goal in 38 appearances.

The young Scot tormented his marker, at times, but it was Kevin Kilbane’s cross from the left that created the next clearcut opening, when Doyle headed down to Keane who was just beaten to the ball by Nuredinoski.

It was Doyle’s last meaningful contribution. He went down 16 minutes in with what looked like a knee injury and was replaced by Shane Long, and five minutes later Ireland doubled their lead through Keane.

It was a typical well-struck Gibson shot that caused the problem but Trapattoni needs more than that from the Manchester United midfielder when he gets his chance. The Derryman had his moments when picking passes but neither he nor Glenn Whelan ever looked likely to dominate the midfield and ceded too much possession to their opponents.

Nevertheless, Long could have put the game beyond doubt in the 26th minute and did well to make room for the shot after Kean’s clever flick directed Kevin Foley’s ball into his path, but his left-foot shot was well wide of the upright.

Goalscorer Trichkovski made clear the danger he presented when firing a curling effort just past Westwood’s right-hand post on the 32nd minute, but the warning went unheeded and when Pandev

turned Kevin Kilbane and set the midfielder free. The ease with

which he turned Dunne was a worry but there was little Westwood could do about a neat finish.

Pandev went close against, early in the second half, when sweeping Goran Popov’s cross wide on the volley.

Boban Grncharov was lucky to remain on the field after catching Long in the face with a high foot, but he remained and the Reading striker received treatment before returning to the field with bandaged up.

After Duff’s shot was blocked towards McGeady the winger found the Fulham man with a deep cross but the Dubliner’s shot was dragged just wide of the post. Moments later he robbed Popov on the one and fed it into Keane’s feet. The captain turned and tried a cheeky pass through the defenders legs to Long but the ball was deflected to safety.

These were chances but it remained to open from the homeside and Trichkovksi and Pandev looked dangerous in possession. In fact, the former would have equalised but for the quick reactions of Westwood, who smothered his shot after he beat the offside trap.

Ireland looked rocked, with ghosts of Skopje seemingly haunting them, and Dunne and Gibson both went into the book for rash challenges.

To their credit, they regained some composure and kept the ball well away from Westwood’s goal for most part, with Duff’s deflected effort almost sealing the win arly, but the whistle eased nerves soon afterwards.

Republic of Ireland:

Westwood;

Foley,

O'Dea, Dunne,

Kilbane;

McGeady,

Whelan,

Gibson (18 Fahey '77), Duff;

Doyle (Long '20), Keane (McCarthy '87).

Macedonia: Nuredinoski; Shikov,

Popov, Noveski, Grncharov;

Shumulikosi, Demiri (Georgievski '84), Tasevski (Gjurovski '61), Trichkovski;

Pandev, Naumoski (Risticj '68).

Referee: Istvan Vad (Hungary).