Republic of Ireland 0-3 Australia

by Shane Murray

Two first half goals from Tim Cahill and a late David Carney wonder-strike gave Australia a 3-0 victory on the Republic of Ireland's debut appearance in Limerick.

The new-look Thomond Park opened its gates for the first time to the senior international soccer team but it proved to be another night to remember for the wrong reasons as Pim Verbeek's side ran out comfortable winners in front of around 20,000 at the famous rugby venue.

Cahill put the visitors in front in the 38th minute when he slotted home after a neat one-two with Scott McDonald before adding a second on the rebound on 44 after Rhys Williams' shot was parried by Shay Given.

The hosts matched their opponents for much of the match, with Keith Andrews hitting the post late on before Carney blasted home from distance in the 93rd minute to seal an emphatic and deserved win for the Socceroos.

Both sides started brightly, but the first real chance fell to the Australians in the seventh minute when Cahill and Harry Kewell combined well on the left, and Richard Dunne's header clear landed to Luke Wilkshire, who pulled his low right-footed shot just wide of Given's left post.

A minute later, Dunne was penalised for a foul on Cahill 35 yards out and Kewell's driven shot forced Given into a smart save to his left.

In the 13th minute, Kevin Kilbane set the lively Aiden McGeady free down the left and his inviting cross was headed narrowly over by Robbie Keane.

Keane then fed McGeady in the 20th minute and he switched play brilliantly to Damien Duff on the right, before the Newcastle United man cut inside only to see his shot deflected for a corner, which Mark Schwarzer gathered at the second attempt.

In the 22nd minute, Mark Bresciano's corner saw a Patrick Kisnorbo header saved on the line by Given, low to his left.

Ireland's best chance of the half came in the 23rd minute when McGeady's trickery down the left allowed him to play the ball into Keane, and the Spurs man turned a couple of defenders before Schwarzer palmed away his left foot shot.

McGeady was having plenty of joy on the left, and a good move involving him, Glenn Whelan and Kevin Doyle in the 31st minute saw the ball eventually cleared to the Celtic winger on the edge of the box, but he should have done better with a right footed shot the went well over.

A minute later, Darron Gibson broke from midfield, but with Doyle and Keane available either side, the Manchester United midfielder overhit his pass to Doyle, who failed to keep the ball in play.

Giovanni Trapattoni's men grew in stature as the first half progressed, but they fell behind against the run of play when Cahill struck for his first in the 38th minute.

An Irish corner was cleared to the Everton striker on the halfway line, where he controlled superbly on his chest.

From there, he drove forward and exchanged passes with McDonald before unleashing a well placed shot low to Given's right to silence the home crowd.

Good play from Duff and Keane almost saw John O'Shea through on goal at the other end, but his first touch let him down in the box.

Australia, already qualified for the 2010 World Cup, doubled their lead a minute before the break when Williams beat McGeady to the ball on the left and burst forward only to see his right foot shot parried by Given.

However, the alert Cahill was perfectly placed to slot home the rebound from eight yards with a clinically dispatched finish, this time low to Given's left to leave Ireland 2-0 down at half-time.

Several interval changes on both sides failed to change the complexion of the game as Australia continued to look dangerous, despite Ireland enjoying the better share of possession.

In the 50th minute, McGeady worked his way into the box but his shot was deflected wide for a corner, from which Stephen Hunt, on for Duff, eventually saw his shot easily saved by Schwarzer.

Australia continued to play with authority and invention and Brett Holman, a half-time substitute for Cahill, tested Given with a decent effort from long range in the 54th minute.

A great flick on by Caleb Folan, another half-time sub, saw Keane almost in on goal four minutes later, but the Spurs man wasn't quick enough and Australia regrouped.

Hunt was typically willing and inventive and Keane's back-heel to him saw him shoot narrowly wide under pressure after the hour mark, but it was a sign of encouragement to the enthusiastic Limerick crowd.

Keane carved a great opening for himself in the 69th minute when he collected McGeady's cross from the right and turned brilliantly on the edge of the six yard box, but his shot was blocked by Carney.

A quick throw-in from O'Shea to Keane in the 73rd minute allowed the latter the space to drill an inviting ball across the six yard box, but alas there was no Irish player on hand to trouble Schwarzer's goal.

Sean St Ledger, who did little wrong alongside Dunne at the heart of the Irish defence, almost stole in from a Hunt corner in the 77th minute, while Kewell tried his luck with a belter from distance which sailed narrowly over Kieran Westwood's goal in the 81st minute.

Ireland pushed forward as the final whistle drew near and were unlucky not to score at least once in the closing minutes.

Eddie Nolan, another who impressed after his introduction, found Andrews on the edge of the box and his right foot shot came back off the post, while St Ledger had a point-blank header saved with just a minute to go.

However, the visitors had the last say as Carney stepped up to hammer home an absolute pile-driver from 30 yards to seal an emphatic win for the visitors in front of a disappointed Thomond Park crowd.

Republic of Ireland: 1 Shay Given (16 Kieran Westwood 68 mins); 2 John O'Shea, 4 Sean St Ledger, 5 Richard Dunne, 3 Kevin Kilbane (12 Eddie Nolan 62 mins); 11 Damien Duff (17 Stephen Hunt h-t), 6 Glenn Whelan, 8 Darron Gibson (15 Keith Andrews 62 mins), 7 Aiden McGeady (20 Shane Long 82 mins); 9 Kevin Doyle (18 Caleb Folan h-t), 10 Robbie Keane.

Substitutes not used: 13 Kevin Foley, 14 Andy Keogh, 19 Liam Miller, 21 Liam Lawrence, 22 Stephen Kelly.

Australia: 1 Mark Schwarzer; 20 Rhys Williams, 12 Patrick Kisnorbo (17 Adrian Madaschi h-t), 5 Jade North (15 Matt Spiranovic 72 mins), 3 David Carney; 23 Mark Bresciano (19 Nick Carle 78 mins), 6 Mile Jedinak (21 James Holland 89 mins), 8 Luke Wilkshire, 10 Harry Kewell; 4 Tim Cahill (14 Brett Holman), 7 Scott McDonald (11 Nikita Rukavytsya h-t)).

Substitutes not used: 18 Ante Covic, 13 Aaron Mooy, 16 Dario Vidosic, 22 Oliver Bozanic.

Referee: Alfonso Perez Burrul (Spain).