Republic of Ireland cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win over the Faroe Islands this evening courtesy of a Robbie Keane hat-trick.
Keane bagged the three goals on an occasion that saw him become Ireland's highest ever appearance maker with 126.
The first goal came after just five minutes, but Ireland failed to add to their lead before the break despite having a number of chances.
Keane's second goal came from a simple tap-in 10 minutes after the break before he added the third late on to secure all three points.
You can read how it all unfolded with Sports Mole's live play-by-play coverage below.
Good evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for today's World Cup qualifying match between Republic of Ireland and the Faroe Islands.
On paper this looks a pretty straightforward test for the home side. Anything other than a comfortable win would be a huge shock, and manager Giovanni Trapattoni will be expecting a fairly easy evening.
While it should be an easy test for them, though, there is no doubting the importance of the match. Ireland are precariously perched in Group C and need to make matches like this evening's count.
Ireland currently sit fourth in Group C but, given the tight nature of the group, they are still very much in the running. Three teams are fighting it out to finish behind Germany, who look to be the runaway leaders of the group.
Austria, Sweden and Ireland are all level on eight points, although Sweden have a game in hand over the other two. Goal difference could play a part in the final standings of the group, making matches against minnows such as Faroe Islands all the more important.
Ireland have played two matches since the club season finished, and their general form going into tonight's match is good. An impressive 1-1 draw against England was followed up by a comfortable 4-0 win over Georgia on Sunday, with Robbie Keane bagging a brace in that game.
Looking even further back, Ireland are unbeaten in their last five matches, winning two and drawing three. They have only lost once in the qualifying campaign so far, although that was a heavy 6-1 drubbing at the hands of Germany.
Things aren't quite so rosy for the Faroe Islands, who come into the match in typically dismal form. They have lost their last eight matches, only managing three goals in that time while shipping 25.
They did, however, manage a rare win against Estonia in 2011 and drew with Northern Ireland during the European Championships qualifying campaign in 2010.
Such results are sporadic at best for the Faroe Islands, who currently occupy 162nd spot in the FIFA rankings. They sit in between Bermuda and Gambia, 121 places behind Ireland, who are ranked 41st in the world.
TEAM NEWS: The team news is in for both sides, and the headline news is that Robbie Keane returns to the starting lineup as expected. Jonathan Walters will partner him up front due to the suspension of Shane Long. Full team news coming right up...
IRELAND STARTING XI: Forde; O'Shea, St Ledger, Wilson, Coleman; McGeady, Whelan, Hoolahan, Cox; Keane, Walters
IRELAND SUBS: Keogh, Sammon, Delaney, O'Dea, Randolph, Hendrick, McClean, Westwood, McShane, Dunne, Kelly, Quinn
FAROE ISLANDS STARTING XI: Nielsen; Justinussen, Frederiksberg, Gregersen, Vatnsdal; Baldvinsson, Samuelsen, Olsen, Holst; Klettskard, Jonsson
FAROE ISLANDS SUBS: Danielsen, Mouritsen, Jorgensen, Samuelsen, Edmundsson, Naes, Gestsson, Davidsen
So, what can we make of those sides? Well, there are no surprises on the Irish end as the lineup is pretty much as we expected. Trapattoni has chosen probably his strongest lineup with the players available to him, which shows that he is taking what should be a routine win very seriously.
The main threat to Faroe Island will be Robbie Keane. The Ireland skipper has plenty of experience having made 125 appearances for his country, and his 56 goals, which makes him by far the country's highest ever scorer.
Jonathan Walters will also be a threat, while the likes of McGeady, Whelan, Hoolahan, and Cox can also pop up with goals from midfield, so there is plenty of firepower in this Ireland side.
The same can't be said for the Faroe Islands. Of their current squad, only seven players have ever scored an international goal. Even then, their top scorer still playing is captain Frodi Benjaminsen, who has just five goals to his name from 74 caps.
Benjaminsen isn't on show this evening, however, so their most prolific player that will be in action tonight is Suni Olsen, who has scored four goals in his 48 caps.
Their striker this evening, Pall Kelttskard, is making his debut at the age of 23. It is likely to be a baptism of fire for the KI Klaksvik player, and he won't be expecting to have many opportunities to open his international goalscoring account.
Compared to Ireland, there isn't much experience throughout the Faroe Islands squad. Olsen is the most capped player on show tonight with 48 caps, while only four players have amassed more than 10 appearances.
In terms of history between these two sides, there is nothing for Ireland to worry about. They have won every single match they have ever played against the Faroe Islands, including a 4-1 success in the reverse fixture of the current qualifying campaign.
PREDICTION: We're ten minutes from kickoff at the Aviva Stadium, which means that it is time for our prediction. I can't see anything other than an Ireland win this evening, and I think it will be quite comfortable. I'm going to go for a 4-0 win for the home side.
There are other international matches going on this evening, and I will keep you updated with goings on elsewhere. I will keep a particularly close eye on the match between Austria and Sweden, the result of which will have a big impact on Ireland's standing in the group.
Ireland will be hoping for a draw in that match I'm sure. Austria and Sweden sharing the spoils, coupled with a win for Ireland against the Faroe Islands, would see Trapattoni's men move into the all-important second spot in Group C.
This really should be a routine win for the Irish, the only question seems to be how much they will win by. I've predicted a 4-0 win, but I wouldn't be surprised to see even more goals.
KICKOFF: Here we go! The match gets underway on a lovely sunny day in Dublin.
As expected, Ireland are dominating the early possession here. Walters shows great determination to chase what looked like a lost cause down the channel, and in the end he wins a corner.
SHOT! Early chance for Ireland as they work a two-on-one situation from the corner. McGeady advances into the box but drags his shot tamley wide of the near post when he should have perhaps aimed for a shot across goal. He should have done better there.
GOAL! Ireland 1-0 Faroe Islands (Robbie Keane)
Robbie Keane celebrates becoming the most capped Ireland player of all time with an early goal! It isn't one of his best, but they all count. Hoolahan fed the ball out to McGeady, whose cross initially looked poor but somehow found its way to Keane. The Ireland skipper scuffs his shot as well a bit and there isn't much power on it, but the keeper doesn't cover himself in glory either and the ball trickles in. That's Keane's 57th goal for Ireland.
SHOT! An initial ball into the box is headed out only as far as Whelan on the edge, but he gets his first-time volley all wrong and slices it high over the bar.
McGeady darts down the left and gets a dangerous looking cross into the box, but despite some shabby defending the Faroe Islands scramble it clear.
Robbie Keane looks like he is through again, but he can't take the ball in his stride and the danger passes.
Good chance for the hosts as Keane slides a ball into Walters, who hits a first-teim shot at goal from inside the box. His effort looks goalbound, but Frederiksberg makes a fine block to deny the Stoke City striker.
There isn't much ambition from the Faroe Islands at the moment. They look resigned to damage limitation mode already, and Ireland will have to play through them if they want to add to their lead. They have all 11 men behind the ball most of the time.
The home fans shout rather optimistically for a penalty after a small push on Keane inside the box. The ref is right to wave it away, and Coleman is caught offside shortly after which gives the Faroe Islands a chance to clear their lines.
McGeady shows some wing wizardry to race away from three players down the left wing, but his final ball lets him down as it trickles along the floor and is easily cleared. Great play before the cross, but no end product.
The ideas from Ireland are all there, but the execution isn't at the moment. Wilson makes his way down the left before playing the ball inside to Keane. Walters is already on his way looking for a through ball, but it is over-hit and goes out for a goal kick.
David Forde gets his first touch of the ball 20 minutes in! Even then, it is from an Irish pass. He still hasn't had any goalkeeping to do this evening.
Ireland knock the ball about patiently on the edge of the box as Faroe Islands crowd round the ball. Ireland can't quite find a way through as McGeady plays Wilson in down the left flank, but his low cross is put behind for a corner.
It's all very congested at the moment. McGeady pulls of a sharp turn to find space to shoot from around 25 yards out, but there are too many bodies in the way and his shot is blocked.
CHANCE! What a chance for Keane! It really should be 2-0 right now. A well-worked free kick completely fools the Faroe Islands as Robbie Keane is played in, but he hesistates when one-on-one with the keeper and his shot is eventually smotehred. Big, big chance.
SAVE! A deep cross to the back post finds Walters, who heads an effort goalwards but it is easy for Nielsen in the Faroe Islands' goal.
Walters almost takes full advantage of an underhit header back to the keeper. Nielsen eventually collects it at the second attempt, but that was a careless mistake that let Walters in.
UPDATE: There has been a goal in the other match in Group C, and it has gone to Austria. David Alaba has scored from the spot to give the hosts a 1-0 lead over Sweden, which would see Ireland move up a place to third.
UPDATE: There has been another goal in that match, and again it has gone to Austria! They now lead 2-0 courtesy of a Mark Janko header.
SAVE! Keane has another chance to double his personal tally, but he is again denied by Nielsen. McGeady dances his way past a Faroe Islands defender before digging out a cross that is only cleared as far as Keane. The skipper takes it down on his chest before unleashing a powerful strike that is well tipped over.
SAVE! More good play from McGeady as he cuts inside his man before trying to curl a shot into the far corner. He doesn't quite get it wide enough, however, and Nielsen gets down well to save.
Ireland win yet another corner, but again they don't make the most of it. Faroe Islands are not going to be the most organised team defensively, so set pieces should provide Ireland with a real opportunity to create chances.
That's just about the best we've seen from Faroe Islands so far. They string a few passes together and eventually get a cross into the box which is flicked towards Klettskard, but it is just too far in front of the striker.
SAVE! McGeady is the man who looks most likely to unlock this Faroe Islands defence at the moment. Once again he works space to shoot from range, but his effort this time is saved by Neilsen.
YELLOW CARD! We have our first booking of the match just before half tie, and it goes to Vatnsdal. The defender leapt with his elbows out and the referee deemed it dangerous play.
The end product isn't good enough from Ireland at the moment. A fine cross-field pass picks out Hoolahan, but the final ball is easily cleared with plenty of green shirts waiting in the box.
HALF TIME: Republic of Ireland 1-0 Faroe Islands
The referee brings an end to a pretty dull half of football as Ireland continue to patietnly prove for a way through a stubborn Faroe Islands defence.
Robbie Keane marked his record-breaking appearance with an early goal which is the difference between the two sides at the moment. It could have been more, though, as Keane has had two other chances that he would have expected to score. One in particular was a gilt-edge chance that he really should have put away.
The hosts are in no danger of losing this game, but they are struggling to find a way through the defence. Aiden McGeady has looked the most likely to create something, but there are too many bodies in the middle of the park to create much.
Faroe Islands haven't threatened in an attacking sense whatsoever, but Trapattoni will be keen for his side to get at least one more just in case. Anything can happen in football, and Faroe Islands would just need a lucky strike to pull off a famous draw.
In Group C's other match going on tonight, Austria are beating Sweden 2-0, which would leave them second in the table still level on points with Ireland, who would leapfrog Sweden into third as things stand.
I think it is fairly safe to assume that Ireland will close this one out today, but Trapattoni will be taking nothing for chance. He will want his side to get at least one more to avoid any shocks.
KICKOFF: Ireland get us back underway at the Aviva Stadium. Can they extend their lead in this half?
The Faroe Islands make a rare foray into the Irish third, and they are rewarded with a decent penalty shout. A deflected cross into the box reaches Olsen, who is bundled over by St Ledger. It would've been a harsh decision, but I've seen them given.
Whelan drives at the heart of the Faroe Islands defence before trying to slip a pass through to Keane, but he puts too much on it and the keeper collects.
Walters is released behind the defence, but his touch allows the Faroe Islands to scramble back and the Stoke man is eventually crowded out. It just isn't quite happening for the hosts at the moment.
Not much to report in terms of chances at the moment. Ireland are still dominating possession but they can't find a way through the Faroe Islands defence.
GOAL! Ireland 2-0 Faroe Islands (Robbie Keane)
There is the second goal, and it puts the result completely beyond doubt. Hoolahan does well on the edge of the box to get away from his man before playing it to Coleman on the right. The Everton full-back puts a first-time low cross into the box that is just too far in front of Walters but not Keane, who is coming in behind his strike partner to tap an easy finish in.
That goal was important for the game, too. It was beginning to feel very stagnant, but hopefully the goal will inject some life into it.
It is worth noting that that goal puts Ireland's goal difference into positive figures in Group C. The table is very tight at the moment and goal difference could play a big part, so Ireland will want to get as many as they can in the remaining half an hour.
McGeady beats his man down the left yet again, faking a cross which sends his marker to the ground before cutting into the box and putting the ball into the box. St Ledger collects it, but he has his back to goal and his first touch is loose enough for the defence to hack it clear.
That is probably the most threatening the Faroe Islands have look so far. They get a free kick just inside the Ireland half, and the subsequent cross is met by Baldvinsson, whose header gets a touch and goes behind for a corner.
FAROE ISLANDS SUB: The first change of the day comes from the Faroe Islands as Joan Simun Edmundsson replaces Klettskard, who has had a very quiet debut.
Coleman shifts the ball onto his right foot and shows good pace to beat his man before sending a cross into the box, but no-one is there to meet it and it is headed behind for a corner.
YELLOW CARD! Pol Justinussen becomes the second man in the book for a foul on Coleman. He pulled the Everton man back when as he threatened to break free.
SHOT! Half chance for Ireland as McGeady is left in acres of space inside the box from a free kick. It wasn't the easiest shot to take on as he attempted a first-time volley, but he managed to get it on target. McGeady shot it into the ground, which made it relatively easy for Neilsen.
YELLOW CARD! Wes Hoolahan becomes the firts Irish player to enter the referee's book for a foul just inside his own half.
IRELAND SUB: Giovanni Trapattoni makes his first change of the evening as Connor Sammon replaces Jonathan Walters.
I said earlier that I hoped the second goal would liven this game up a bit. It hasn't. The atmosphere is very flat at the moment and the players aren't exactly giving the fans anything to shout about.
IRELAND SUB: This is a slightly strange choice from Trapattoni as McGeady, who has been Ireland's best player today, is replaced by James McClean.
SHOT! That is the closest the Faroe Islands have come this evening. A floated free kick into the box is met by the head of Gregersen, whose lopping header lands on the roof of the net. It had Forde worried and with good reason, that wasn't too far away.
The visitors are starting to come forward a bit more now, but they simply don't have the quality to threaten the Irish defence. The final pass is always lacking and, as a direct result, any decent attacking platforms they create quickly evaporate.
GOAL! Ireland 3-0 Faroe Islands (Robbie Keane)
What a way to celebrate becoming your country's highest ever appearance maker! Robbie Keane completes his hat-trick by sliding the ball past Neilsen from close range having been found by Sammon's pass.
IRELAND SUB: Stephen Kelly is the latest sub for Ireland as he comes on in place of Marc Wilson.
CLOSE! Robbie Keane is almost sent through on goal but he just can't bring the ball under his spell. Moments later, Cox carries the ball along the edge of the box, eventually firing a powerful shot goalwards that flies just over the bar.
FAROE ISLANDS SUB: Olsen makes way for the Faroe Islands to be replaced by Samuelsen.
YELLOW CARD! Baldvinsson is angry at this decision, and he has every right to be. He pulls off a fine tackle on Sammon but is penalised and shown a yellow card, which means that he will miss the match against Sweden.
Robbie Keane thinks that he is in for a fourth goal, but the linesman raises his flag. The skipper still produces a wonderful finish as he lifts it over the keeper, but it won't count. That was a very tight decision and, unsurprisingly, Keane disagrees with it.
We will have three minutes of added time at the Aviva Stadium.
The players seem content with the 3-0 win. Ireland are just knocking the ball about now waiting for the referee to blow his whistle for the final time.
FULL TIME: Republic of Ireland 3-0 Faroe Islands
The referee brings an end to a comfortable 90 minutes of football for Ireland as they cruise to a 3-0 win over the Faroe Islands courtesy of a Robbie Keane hat-trick. The three goals are even more special for the skipper as he became his country's highest ever appearance maker this evening, winning his 126th cap to overtake Shay Given.
The result lifts Ireland to third in Group C as Sweden were beaten 2-1 bu Austria, who now occupy second place.
It was by no means a classic match this evening, but Ireland did the job and got a vital three points. They perhaps would have liked to have scored more goals, but a 3-0 win is respectable and means that they now have positive goal difference.
The Faroe Islands, meanwhile, remain rock bottom of the group with precisely zero points. Today was two years to the day since their last win, and they will have to wait even longer having been dispatched by Ireland this evening.
Right, that's it from me this evening. Thank you for joining Sports Mole for what was a celebratory occasion for Robbie Keane as he scored a hat-trick to fire Ireland to victory over the Faroe Islands. I will leave you with Simon Sinclair's match report, and be sure to stick around for analysis, which will be on site within half an hour. Good night!
Written by
Barney Corkhill
Barney Corkhill
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