A late goal from Italian substitute Alberto Gilardino denied Ireland a famous victory in an entertaining 2-2 draw at Croke Park, writes Glenn Mason.
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Gilardino's late intervention secured the reigning champions' place at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and consigned Ireland to the play-offs as one of the eight best runners up.
Glenn Whelan put Ireland ahead early on with a curling shot from outside the box. However, Mauro Camoranesi equalised with a header from Andrea Pirlo's corner later in the half.
Sean St Ledger then sent Croke Park into raptures as he headed Ireland back into the lead on 87 minutes from Stephen Hunt's free-kick.
However, Italy caught Ireland on the break in the dying minutes as Gilardino finished Vincenzo Iaquinta's cut-back.
Giovanni Trapattoni made two changes to the side that had defeated Cyprus in the previous qualifier, with Liam Lawrence and Aiden McGeady replacing Stephen Hunt and the injured Damien Duff.
Italy made three changes to the team that had brushed aside Bulgaria last month.
Nicola Legrottaglie was chosen to partner Giorgio Chiellini in the centre of defence in the absence of suspended captain Fabio Cannavaro. Elsewhere, Angelo Palombo and Antonio Di Natale replaced Claudio Marchisio and Gilardino.
Ireland took the lead after just seven minutes following a needless foul out wide on Keane by Legrottaglie. Lawrence fooled the visitors by rolling the free-kick back to Whelan and he curled beyond Gianluigi Buffon.
Lawrence had been brought in at the expense of Stephen Hunt and he settled well in his first competitive start for his country.
Croke Park was rocking as the home fans delighted in the visitors' early struggles, but Italy still retain some of the class that brought them glory in Berlin in 2006 and they passed their way back into contention.
The probing play of Pirlo and Daniele De Rossi, combined with the intelligent running of Iaquinta, were beginning to test Ireland's concentration and the world champions went close three times in quick succession as they searched for the equaliser.
Playmaker Pirlo set Grosso away and the full-back slipped by Lawrence, but fortunately for Ireland his cut back drifted across the box. Shay Given then did well to gather Grosso's dipping volley, as the Juventus defender began to saunter forward at will.
A goal looked imminent for the world champions and St Ledger was called on to block an effort from Iaquinta, but he could not prevent the corner from which Camoranesi equalised on 27 minutes.
The Juventus midfielder was unmarked as he met Pirlo's corner with a downward header that Given could only get a hand to.
Ireland responded well to conceding the goal and showed the battling qualities that have become synonymous with the Trapattoni era. Aiden McGeady grew as the half wore on to become, alongside Lawrence, one of the chief tormentors of Italy's vaunted defence.
The visitors were denied a second goal straight after the restart when Iaquinta was adjudged to be offside as he bundled in Giorgio Chiellini's flick on. At the other end, John O'Shea failed to capitalise on a free header from a McGeady free-kick.
The Juve keeper, who like his opposite number Given and Kevin Kilbane was earning his 99th cap, then got down to keep out Richard Dunne's header following Lawrence's corner.
Contrary to pre-game expectations, both sides were pressing forward and looking for a second goal in one of the most entertaining international football games seen at Croke Park.
Trapattoni withdrew goalscorer Whelan and Kevin Doyle for Martin Rowlands and Leon Best, but Ireland were indebted to O'Shea as they sought to keep Italy out, with the defender twice heading clear from under his crossbar.
St Ledger looked to have won the game for Ireland on 87 minutes when he escaped from Gilardino to head in Stephen Hunt's wicked free-kick. Croke Park was as raucous as it has ever been, but Italy were not to be denied.
Gilardino pounced in the 89th minute to slide the ball past Given and send the travelling contingent into raptures.
REP OF IRELAND: 1 Given; 4 O'Shea, 5 Dunne, 2 St Ledger, 3 Kilbane; 11 Lawrence, 6 Whelan (14 Rowlands '70), 8 Andrews, 7 McGeady (17 S Hunt 78'); 9 Doyle (18 Best '67), 10 Keane.
Subs not used: 16 Westwood, 12 McShane, 13 Nolan, 15 N Hunt.
Booked: Whelan, Best.
ITALY: 1 Buffon; 2 Zambrotta, 4 Chiellini, 5 Legrottaglie, 3 Grosso (14 Bochetti '76); 6 De Rossi, 8 Palombo; 7 Camoranesi, 10 Pirlo, 11 Di Natale (17 Gilardino '76); 9 Iaquinta.
Subs not used: 12 Marchetti, 13 Gamberini, 15 Gattuso, 16 D'Agostino, 18 Pepe.
Booked: De Rossi,
Referee: Terje Hauge (Norway).
