Steve Finnan and Kevin Kilbane scored their first international goals tonight as Ireland beat Finland 3-0 to stretch their unbeaten run to seven games. Veteran Steve Staunton sealed the win with a superb left-foot shot in the final seconds of the game. "To be fair, I think 3-0 flattered us but they were three good goals," said Ireland's manager Mick McCarthy.
Ireland were without a number of first choice players including captain Roy Keane but continued the fine form of this autumn which has earned them World Cup qualifying draws with the fancied Dutch and Portuguese and a win over Estonia. Fulham's Finnan, winning his fifth cap, opened the scoring after 14 minutes.
Irish player of the year Mark Kinsella, captaining the team for the first time, supplied a superb through ball and Finnan took the ball past onrushing goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen before sliding it into an empty net.
Finland enjoyed much of the possession but showed their usual weakness in front of goal. They came closest to an equaliser in the 43rd minute when PSV Eindhoven midfielder Joonas Kolkka thumped a shot against the bar. Kolkka went close again on the hour but was denied by a good save from Shay Given.
Ireland finished off Finland with two strikes in the last five minutes. Sunderland's Kilbane, winning his 20th cap, rose to score with a powerful header following good work out on the right by substitute Jason McAteer.
Staunton, who came off the bench to win his 86th cap, finished the game in style. Accepting a short free kick, he curved home a superb shot with his left foot. It was his eighth goal for Ireland and it is unlikely he has scored many better than that. Kinsella was named man of the match to cap a perfect week but manager McCarthy also singled out Finnan for an "outstanding performance."
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
