Flood brace opens the gates for Ireland

Ireland...3  Slovenia..

Ireland...3  Slovenia...0  A fortuitous opening goal from Paul Murphy and two sublime late strikes from William Flood, one from a free-kick, set up Ireland for a showdown with Yugoslavia - 4-0 winners over Cyprus at Tolka Park - at Richmond Park tomorrow night to decide which of them qualifies for the final in Denmark in May.

Ireland gradually settled down and it all went their way in the second half. On 55 minutes an Alan O'Brien's cross came off a defender to leave Murphy with a tap in.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Murphy (Leeds United); O'Mahoney (Kingdon Boys), Deans (Stella Maris), McStay (Leeds United), Keyes (Leeds United); Flood (Manchester City), Cousins (Leeds United), Ryan (Sunderland), O'Brien (Newcastle United); Bermingham (Manchester City), Murphy (Manchester City). Subs: Corr (Leeds United) for Bermingham (55 mins), Timlin (Fulham) for Cousins (64 mins), Cassidy (Home Farm) for Murphy (72 mins.).