by Brendan Cole (press F5 to update)
93 mins And that's the ball game.......anyone got Stephen Ireland's number?
92 mins GOAL! Stunning strike by Carney. Wide open in the middle of the park - Ireland again a bit lazy - he winds up and finds a pearler.
He is between 35 and 40 yards out and just to the right of the goal and finds the top left corner with a superb hit with his right foot.
Trap can only smile on the sideline - better to have it happen in a friendly............
IRELAND 0-3 AUSTRALIA
91 mins Carney gets it out wide for the Aussies after St Ledger gives away a free in the centre circle - Ireland a bit lazy in defence and let him cross it and St Ledger has to head it out.
90 mins Three minutes added time.
88 mins CHANCE! A long throw in goes to Folan who flicks it on to St Ledger, open inside the six yard box, but on the stretch his header goes straight at Schwarzer.
87 mins Andrews hits the post! Nolan finds him with a very quick and accurate pass having cut in from the right and the big man takes one touch and hits it low to Schwarzer's right.
Ireland win a corner through Hunt, who is now operating on the right with Long on the left, next and the first one is headed out for another corner by the Aussies.
Next one is pulled back and Whelan's cross is blocked.
84 mins Shane Long wins a header and forces an Ireland throw near the endline which Ireland then turn into a corner.
Hunt will take and goes short first time - another corner results.
Schwarzer fists the next effort clear the near post. Quickly back in and Folan tees up O'Shea, who has his shot blocked.
Hunt gets it next but he hesitates and then passes to Long and his cross is caught by Schwarzer.
83 mins Folan again wins good ball on the edge of the box but Ireland can't develop it and are pressed out.
81 mins Long ball to Robbie Keane and he chests it onto his own arm - looked a genuine error. With Folan and Long in good space down the right, the ref blows it up for handball.
Harsh.
81 mins McGeady goes off for Shane Long, who will play on the right.
79 mins Strike from well out by Kewell is nicely struck but a good 5 yards wide.
78 mins Aussies attack next but Ireland force it out through Dunne. He nutmeg's the first man - seriously - but lunges at the next and gives away a free.
Aussies start passing it around again but Williams is dispossesses by Hunt and Ireland also get the throw.
76 mins Nolan and Keane do link up this time and they win a corner. Hunt takes and St Ledger gets close to it but it is headed behind by a defender.
Next Hunt cross is poor - too low - and forced out.
Ireland attack again though and the next cross has Ireland again looking for a penalty. The ball hits off Williams' arm but to be honest, it is far to close to him and is clearly a deflection.
74 mins Corner to the Aussies but it is well overhit. Dunne blocks out the next ball. Ireland attack down the left but Keane ignores and open Nolan to go the other way.
Eventually crossed in from the right and Keane falls in a heap in the box but no hint of a penalty.
73 mins McGeady puts a dangerous cross into the 'corridor of uncertainty' but it evades everyone.
Aussies attack next and it requires a good tackle from St Ledger on Holman to end it up on the Irish endline.
71 mins Great tackle by Whelan ends an Aussie attack. Aussies get it back and Kewell punts it out to allow that substition to happen.
70 mins Change for Aussies - Spiranovic for centre-half North, who seems to have a problem with his cheekbone or thereabouts.
68 mins Keane creates a great chance, finding a yard after getting on a low cross from the right with his back to goal despite being surrounded by Australian defenders inside the six yard box - shot blocked in the end by Carney.
Was a classic Keane turn though and he looks sharp.
67 mins Free to Ireland for a Williams foul inside the Aussie half. Sub keeper Keiren Westwood in for Given.
McGeady's ball is a little better but Schwarzer again gets it.
66 mins Robbie Keane wins good ball and Ireland work it around from right to left before Nolan crosses it from wide but it is a little weak and Schwarzer claims it.
65 mins Hunt is the target for a long crossfield ball but can't control it.
64 mins Holman is lively up front for the Aussies and gets on it twice - once having a ball that might have seen him clear hit his ankles and then playing a sharp pass forward.
63 mins Eddie Nolan and Keith Andrews in for Gibson and Kilbane.
62 mins Hunt is again the dangerman, getting clear and down the byline on the left, but his cross is a weak long the ground and cleared.
McGeady tests them on the right next but his trick puts him over then endline.
59 mins Almost a fantastic goal - early ball by Whelan is just too far for Keane but he chases it and backheels it for Hunt, who controls it well in the box.
Terrific tackle by Australian midfielder Wilkshire means the shot skews wide.
Lovely move though, and good to see a functioning Robbie Keane backheel........
59 mins Hunt wins a free inside the Aussie half, tricking Williams into tripping him. He takes the free himself but it is claimed by Schwarzer at the far post.
58 mins As if to prove my point, Hunt is down by the cornerflag in the Irish half to make a clearance about two seconds later.
Next clearance forward is won in the air by Folan and Robbie Keane gets it near the Aussie box with two men between him and goal.
First touch is up in the air and favours the defenders, who scramble it away.
McGeady is next on the scene and rushes onto it but he is forced wide and the attack fizzles out before a cross can be mustered.
55 mins Folan wins a good header in the centre circle and Hunt, rushing onto it, is tripped.
Free Ireland and Hunt gets it on the left and he whips in another low cross - cleared again.
The man has some energy.
52 mins Aussie striker Holman gets on a cross from the left but his shot is poor from the edge of the box.
Gets another ball in a similar position seconds later and has another crack but this time it's too close to Given.
St Ledger has so far not gotten quite close enough to his man on more than one occasion so far.
51 mins Aussie attack fizzles out with a lame chipped ball over the top - loss of Cahill has robbed them of an attacking focal point.
50 mins Hunt's corner flashes low all the way across the six yard box after getting through the near post men. Nobody there though.
Hunt gets it back but his next low crossy-shot is too near Schwarzer who overcomes a slight fumble.
48 mins Dunne is robbed at the back but Ireland pressure Australia into touch and win it back. St Ledger then passes a sharp ball to McGeady.
Swinging pass by Gibson to Hunt is next and he finds Whelan but it stalls a touch. Worked around to McGeady and he cuts inside. Runs out of space and his shot is blocked for a corner.
Better.
47 mins Hunt on the ball three times already and his latest touch allows the ball to be played into Robbie Keane from the right touchline. It jumps a bit though, and is blown for handball.
46 mins Aussies have the first attack though, pushing down the left and getting a deflected cross into the box but St Ledger clears with his head.
45 mins Hunt is on the left. Ireland have upped the intensity and look a better shape in defence already.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHANGES: Stephen Hunt and Caleb Folan are on with Doyle and Damien Duff coming off.
Three changes for the Aussies, with Cahill among those coming off. Kisnorbo - who had that head injury - also off.
In the absence of any proper pundits, this will have to do: Ireland need to take Doyle off as he is clearly not right and shouldn't be risked.
Shane Long or Caleb Folan......not sure if I know really; other option would be a fifth midfielder which might help Ireland build from the back a bit more reliably and keep ball a bit better.
Keith Andrews is surely due a half having been named in midfield in the original team, and he is more pro-active than either Gibson or Whelan have been so far.
Aussies look a very good team but they aren't supermen......
46 mins Whistle goes - half over.
46 mins Doyle will play out the half.
Ireland are chasing shadows as the Aussies hit a higher gear and will need to sort out quite a bit at half-time.
45 mins Kevin Doyle is down and his right leg looks to be the problem. Hasn't looked right all night to be honest.......
43 mins GOAL! Cahill again. Williams cuts in from the right having beaten Aiden McGeady to it first. His hard shot is saved by Given but it goes direct to Cahill and he puts it through the legs of Dunne and Given - man has the knack - for his second of the evening.
Ireland were being outclassed prior to that goal too - with lots of room and options for the Aussies.
IRELAND 0-2 AUSTRALIA
42 mins Aussies are back quickly and cross again to Cahill, who attempts a trademark overhead off the initial skyward header.
He doesn't catch it and Gibson tidies up and scrambles clear.
40 mins Aussies win another free on half-way. Chipped into the Irish box and Harry Kewell gets goal side of Damien Duff on the left side of the six yard box.
His header goes over but under a hell of a lot of pulling and tugging from Duff he is furious he hasn't got a peno.
Too right - should probably have been one.
37 mins GOAL! Brilliant goal for Tim Cahill. A Doyle cross is cleared and Cahill and McDonald link up from a long ball - only two of them to five Irish defenders.
Cahill gets it first on his chest, passes to McDonald who lays it off nicely for his team-mate to take a touch and shoot a really accurate shot from just outside the box low into the bottom left corner.
IRELAND 0-1 AUSTRALIA
35 mins Cahill lofts a ball to McDonald who heads it down for Carney - his shot is hard but hits the man in front and in truth it never really looked like a chance from wide out in the box.
Ireland attack next but McGeady is sheperded over the endline for an Aussie goal-kick. Kisnorbo is back.
34 mins Stoppage for Australia's Kisnorbo to have his head bandage fixed up. He goes off and play continues 11v10 for now.
33 mins St Ledger strides forward with it - the Aussies haven't really been covering Ireland's centre halves - and Ireland attack down the right. Doyle gets it in the box and a corner results.
It's a short one that doesn't work.
31 mins Ireland get into a great situation - Gibson makes a block and races onto the ball - it's three on two but Gibson tries to pass to Doyle wide on the right with Keane arguably in a better spot down the middle.
Doyle can't get to the pass and his cross skews over the endline.
Keane not happy, but Gibson looked dangerous there and with a little more confidence might have done better there........
29 mins More long ball but again it is poor - Richard Dunne this time.
Ireland get it back quickly though and Whelan, McGeady and Doyle combine down the left.
Doyle's cross is poor but the clearance is equally bad and McGeady gets it back on the edge of the box. His attempted curler into the top corner goes high and wide though.
28 mins Ireland get in a good position in midfield, getting possession in the Aussie half with plenty of men in front but Whelan's pass is picked off and the situation dies.
27 mins Another McGeady cross but this time it's too close to the 'keeper. Ireland are doing well every now and again and aside from their being shut down in midfield, it's not a bad display so far.
25 mins Reduced to a Given punt after a few efforts at forward passing. Replays show that Keane was even closer than I said below - six yards out at best, but the angle did for him.
24 mins Robbie arrives back in midfield next to show them how it's supposed to be done. Ireland still struggling to build through the middle though.
22 mins Classic piece of Robbie Keane play - if you don't know where you're going, how can the defender! - Keane twists his man around inside the box and gets open; takes a shot on goal from 8 yards out on the right hand side of goal but Schwarzer saves with his legs. Tricky angle and the Aussie stood tall.
Corner quickly follows for Ireland but it overhit.
21 mins Jedinak gets to the corner and heads hard and low to Given's left from the edge of the six yard box. Great save by Given though - briefly scrabbled on the deck.
Doyle hits a half-chance wide next.
20 mins Duff takes it and Schwarzer claims - drops it briefly with Cahil getting in the way but he laughs it off.
Wiltshire chips to Cahill in the box next and Dunne saves St Ledger as the Aussie had sneaked in behind. Corner Aussies.
18 mins McGeady finds another yard of room down the left and floats in another one but the Aussies head clear.
Dunne gives it away in his own half next and the Aussies attack. Gibson's tackle on Kewell is then blown for a free on the left.
Wiltshire takes and it is a nice dippy one but it is headed out.
Ireland counter with McGeady and finds Duff in space on the left - his shot goes off Carney for a corner.
17 mins Carney takes a very poor one - puts it way high and over; think he was crossing but just didn't catch it at all right.
15 mins Ireland get control in the middle and then Duff gets it down the right and beats a man but his ball inside is intercepted.
Nice play.
Aussies attack next and Williams gets it in space on the right. McGeady makes a key tackle but the Aussies keep the pressure on and Kilbane gives away another free - no argument, he lunged in on Williams - and it's an Aussie free on the edge of the box out to the right.
14 mins Long ball is still the favoured option but Kevin Doyle is struggling to get near them.
Play turns with a foul by Kilbane on Bresciano.
13 mins Free for the Aussies on the right and Carney takes a good one - fast and dipping into the Irish box. Flag is raised for offside though.
12 mins Ireland get the ball forward quickly and Aiden McGeady and Kevin Kilbane combine down the left for McGeady to cross.
It's a bit floaty to the near post and Robbie Keane can't do any better than put a high and weak header well wide from about 8 yards out.
11 mins St Ledger makes another good header as the Aussies start to struggle to find men in front of them. Glenn Whelan's pressing is also making an impression.
A long ball by Given then results in Ireland getting a free from a similar position to Australia's - Gibson shoots the tap but it goes straight into an Aussie.
9 mins Ireland are well covered when they have the ball and can create nothing in the Aussie half.
Then, Duff gets it and passes to O'Shea down the right. His cross is blocked for a throw though and the Aussies clear it from there and are soon in control again.
8 mins It is tapped to Kewell and he takes a very solid shot low to Given's right but the Irish keeper sees it all the way and makes a watchful save.
7 mins Another foul by Whelan in midfield - again from behind. Little bit dramatic by Wiltshire, who is again the victim, but it is given all the same.
30 seconds later, Richard Dunne concedes a similar free - pressuring from behind - but this time it is closer to goal; maybe 15 yards outside the box and near straight in front
5 mins St Ledger makes another good tackle but again, neither side can control. Kewell tries a shot but had no chance of getting it on goal and it goes for a throw.
Another Ireland long ball fails and then Whelan puts in a late challenge from behind in the middle of the park on Luke Wiltshire to give the first free of the night.
Kewell again crosses and it is headed out by Dunne it goes to Wiltshire who half volleys low at the bottom corner of the goal from just outside the box but sees his effort go a yard wide.
3 mins Ireland get the ball next but are repelled down the Australian left hand side. Aussies are controlling the ball well but Gibson intercepts - second nice touch so far - in midfield.
Long ball up is the choice - not for the first time - but the Aussies handle it well and knock it about again before pumping a long one themselves - St Ledger heads it out and it's a throw for the Aussies.
No sign of either side settling just yet.
2 mins Kewell gets free down the left and whips in a dangerous cross near post that Richard Dunne deals with. Corner to Aussies but they put it out - Carney took it I think.
Kick out Ireland.
1 min Munster roar just before kick-off. I'm sure some of the Aussies will be well aware of the Munster story.
Aussies kick-off and get the ball in the Irish half. Ireland buzz about in defence and McGeady wins it though.
Damien Duff is on the right of midfield with McGeady on the left.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7.33pm Sustained applause for Bobby Robson before kick-off.
Ireland: Given, O'Shea, St. Ledger, Dunne, Kilbane, McGeady, Whelan, Gibson, Duff, Keane, Doyle.
Replacements: Westwood, Nolan, Foley, Keogh, Andrews, Hunt,
Folan, Miller, Long, Lawrence, Kelly.
Australia: Schwarzer, Carney, North, Williams, Kisnorbo,
Jedinak, Wilkshire, Cahill, Bresciano, McDonald, Kewell.
Replacements: Covic, Rukavytsya, Mooy, Holman, Spiranovic,
Vidosic, Madaschi, Carle, Holland, Bozanic.
7.30pm 'Amhrán na bhFiann' - oh do write in if I've got that wrong please - is next. Players turn to face the flag as ever and they look fairly serious despite the fact this is a friendly.
Seán St Ledger looks awfully young.
Good version, and we're off in a minute or so.
7.28pm Local bigwigs step out for the meet and greet and then it's anthem time - choir is the Munster Rugby Club Supporters. Sound is not great to begin with but it soon picks up for a rousing version of 'Advance Australia Fair'......
The man who does the rugby matches is on the PA.
7.25pm Looks a very pleasant night at Thomond Park - wonder how the pitch will play.......looks flat, which makes a change from Lansdowne back in the worst of the bad old days.
Teams on the way out and though it's not a full house, there are plenty of people there. Over 3/4s full I'd guess.......
7.25pm Which means Mark Schwarzer is the captain for tonight.
7.22pm Aussie skipper Lucas Neill will not play tonight, fuelling speculation that some fortunate club or other will be signing him in the near future......
7.20pm Who'd a thunk it: Harry Kewell is seemingly not injured and playing. Liverpool fans up and down the country will no doubt wish him all the best......Tim Cahill in midfield is the other obvious threat.
7.15pm Super news: RTÉ was right and lots of other people were wrong - Darron Gibson starts in midfield alongside Glenn Whelan.
7.10pm "Twitter sweeps Premier League?" Not the green part of it is doesn't......no dice on any of the Irish players. If only they could learn from the English and Australian cricket teams, Stewart Cink, Shaq O'Neal (the last tweet from whom announced he's going to Cleveland) and....lots of others - all of whom are regular tweeters.
7.05pm With 25 minutes to go to kick-off, I'm looking around Twitter to find Irish players controversial things on your behalf.......Robbie Keane's profile is not even the real Robbie Keane and that's as far as I've got: will report back as soon as anything interesting pops up.
Dedicated is what I am.
7pm Follow live Ireland v Australia text updates (KO: 7.30pm) on www.rte.ie/sport. The match is also live on RTÉ Radio 1 Extra and RTÉ Radio LW 252 from 7pm with Con Murphy, Gabriel Egan and Eoin Hand providing commentary and analysis.
You can also keep up to date with all the latest scores from across Europe here (WC 2010 Qualifiers) and here (selected friendlies).
