GAME 1: GEORGIA 1-2 REP OF IRELAND, Mainz, 6 Sept, 2008
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Glenn Whelan's rise to prominence gathered pace in Germany as his first senior international goal helped get the Republic of Ireland's World Cup qualifying campaign off to the perfect start.
The 24-year-old Stoke midfielder, winning just his fourth cap after being thrust into the limelight by new coach Giovanni Trapattoni, fired a 70th minute effort past bungling Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Loria to seal a vital victory.
Ireland had taken a 13th-minute lead when Kevin Doyle headed home an Aiden McGeady cross, and could have been out of sight half-time.
Georgia rallied briefly and should have been back on terms through Alexander Iashvili.
But after Robbie Keane had hit the post, Whelan made sure, despite Levan Kenia's injury-time strike, in front of a crowd of just 4,500 in Mainz to send his side into their trip to Montenegro on Wednesday in high spirits.
Much of the pre-match build-up had centred around FIFA's decision, prompted by the Football Association of Ireland's concerns, to switch the game to the neutral venue of FSV Mainz's Bruchweg Stadium.
The Georgians were not best impressed, with coach Hector Cuper insisting there was no reason why the tie should not have been played in Tbilisi, and the Argentinean's mood would not have improved when his side figuratively turned up half an hour late for their re-arranged date.
For 30 minutes, Ireland had things all their own way to the extent that goalkeeper Shay Given was a virtual spectator.
Most of the action came at the other end as Doyle marked his 20th senior cap with the opening goal 13 minutes into the campaign.
It came from the Republic's first cohesive attack, Steven Reid feeding the ball out to Keane on the left, the skipper in turn setting up Aiden McGeady to cross for the Reading striker to head past the flat-footed Giorgi Loria.
With Stephen Hunt - in for the injured Damien Duff in the only change to the side which drew 1-1 in Norway last month - and McGeady repeatedly swapping wings, Trapattoni's side dominated and might have increased their lead after 27 minutes.
Blackburn defender Zurab Khizanishvili's foul on Keane gave the Irish a free-kick 25 yards out, and when the skipper tapped it square to Steven Reid, he unleashed a stinging low drive which Loria did well to parry before claiming Doyle's looping header after he pounced on the rebound.
But just as it looked as though Ireland had assumed complete control, Georgia made their first big push and went in at the break wondering just how they were doing so still in arrears.
Dangerman Iashvili had earlier flashed two shots well wide of the target, but with eight minutes of the half remaining, he was presented with the most gilt-edged of opportunities.
Iashvili was left unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box as the Republic lined up to defend a Levan Kenia corner, but perhaps surprised at the time and space he had been given, he headed over the bar.
The lively Kenia proved a key figure for the Georgians as the game resumed, finding himself in the thick of the action at both ends of the pitch and testing the masked Kevin Kilbane's willingness to put his body to the test a week after fracturing his cheekbone.
With their lead looking slender, Trapattoni's side knew they needed some insurance, and they could have all but killed the game off within six minutes of the restart.
Defender John O'Shea met McGeady's corner unaccompanied by a white shirt, only to lift his header over the bar.
But Georgia were riding their luck and only just survived a self-inflicted wound with 57 minutes gone.
Keane could not believe his luck as he ran on to a desperately underhit back-pass to Loria and round the keeper and shoot towards goal from a tight angle.
To his despair, the ball came back off the upright and with defenders heading back in numbers to protect Loria's goal, McGeady fired a foot wide after the loose ball had been fed out to him.
But Kenia and Levan Kobiashvili, perhaps sensing that Georgia needed to make their move, started to pull the strings in midfield and but for Richard Dunne's 65th-minute block from Zurab Khizanishvili's shot, they might have been level.
However, Ireland's nerves were settled with 20 minutes remaining when Whelan capped off an expansive passing move by sending in a dipping shot which embarrassed Loria, who could only help the ball into his own net.
Kenia was rewarded for a fine individual display with an injury-time consolation strike, but it was not enough to deny the Irish their win.
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GAME 2: MONTENEGRO 0-0 REP OF IRELAND, Podgorica, 10 Sept 2008
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Shay Given was the hero as the Republic of Ireland returned from Montenegro with a hard-earned point to keep their World Cup qualifying campaign on track.
Four days after opening their account with a 2-1 win over Georgia, Giovanni Trapattoni's side were exposed to intense pressure at both ends of a tight contest.
Given had to make excellent saves to deny Montenegro skipper Mirko Vucinic after three minutes and then again after 74 minutes.
But the Newcastle goalkeeper saved the best for last when he acrobatically clawed away Stevan Jovetic's deflected 78th-minute effort to preserve his clean sheet.
Ireland had their chances too with Robbie Keane forcing a good reaction save from Vukasin Poleksic, and they might have left Podgorica with all three points had Estonian referee Sten Kaldma spotted defender Radoslav Batak handling in the box on the stroke of half-time.
In the event, an away draw against a side determined to make a nonsense of their place in the last group of seeds in the qualifying competition could hardly be regarded as anything other than a positive outcome.
Trapattoni had admitted in the run-up to the game that he might say he was satisfied with four points from the two games, but be lying. As he headed for the dressing room, he may well have been having a re-think.
Keane led his players out into a bear-pit of a stadium as a hugely partisan home crowd prepared to roar on their country to what they hoped would be the first competitive victory of their short football history.
Having seen them surrender the opportunity to do just that against Bulgaria at the death on Saturday, Zoran Filipovic's men set about their task with some relish.
Vucinic led the way as a lone striker with excellent support from hugely-talented 18-year-old Fiorentina midfielder Jovetic and Elsad Zverotic, and Trapattoni's side had to weather something of a storm in the early stages.
Given was in action within three minutes of the kick-off, pulling off a good save low to his left after initially coming from his line and then stopping as Jovetic played Vucinic in.
Defender Milan Jonanovic got his head to the resulting corner, but his glanced effort flew just wide.
The visitors were having to work desperately hard to force their way into the game with Steven Reid, who was a doubt before kick-off with a knee problem, and Glenn Whelan scrapping for every ball in an attempt to protect the men behind them.
But as time wore on, Ireland started to draw Montenegro's sting, and that was reflected in a series of long-range efforts from Vucinic and Nikola Drincic which failed to arouse Given's interest to any meaningful degree.
The game sprang to life as the half-time whistle approached when Kevin Kilbane almost collected an unwelcome memory of his 50th consecutive competitive appearance.
The 31-year-old was pinned back deep inside his own half by Zverotic, and as he tried to extricate himself, he slipped and allowed the midfielder to surge into the box and pick out Jovetic.
The youngster set himself before pulling the trigger, but John O'Shea got in a magnificent block to protect Given.
But the drama came at the other end in injury-time when defender Radoslav Batak made a mess of clearing Stephen Hunt's cross and appeared to handle, although referee Kaldma was unimpressed.
Hunt argued long and hard with anyone who was prepared to listen as he left the pitch at the break, but to no avail.
Ireland started the second half at a much higher tempo than they had the first with Hunt particularly prominent, although his final ball at times left a little to be desired.
But it was from another free-kick that they almost took the lead with 56 minutes gone.
Steve Finnan floated the ball into the penalty area, where Kevin Doyle challenge helped to divert it into Keane's path.
The Liverpool striker span and sent a firmly-struck, left-foot half-volley towards goal, but keeper Vukasin Poleksic was well-placed to beat his effort away.
Whelan fired wide and Doyle volleyed straight at Poleksic, but with Ireland committing men to the search for a winner, Jovetic was finding space with ominous ease.
Given came to the rescue twice within four minutes when he blocked Vucinic's near-post effort and then somehow managed to to turn Jovetic's deflected shot away after initially finding himself wrong-footed.
Substitute Simon Vukcevic gave Given cause for concern with a late drive, but the ball sped past the post as Montenegro's hopes of victory dwindled.
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GAME 3: REP OF IRELAND 1-0 CYPRUS, Croke Park, 15 Oct 2008
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Robbie Keane handed boss Giovanni Trapattoni a precious victory in his first competitive game on home soil as the Republic of Ireland gained revenge over Cyprus.
The Liverpool hitman headed home the 35th goal of his senior international career with just five
minutes gone to extend the Italian's unbeaten run to six games and put his side firmly in the race for top spot in World Cup qualifying Group Eight.
But it took a superb 86th-minute save from Shay Given to deny Dimitris Christofi an equaliser as Cyprus emerged from a lethargic start to finally make an impression.
Ireland dominated the opening 45 minutes and could have been even further ahead by the break but for a solid display from Cypriot keeper Antonis Giorgallides and the heroics of defender Marios Elia.
Given had to make one vital first-half save from Michalis Konstantinou, but although he was rarely called upon again until the death, the men in front of him were forced to mount a determined rearguard action as the visitors belatedly found their feet.
Cyprus' 5-2 demolition of Ireland in a European Championship qualifier in October 2006 and the 1-1 draw at Croke Park which followed it a year later have burnt deep into the national psyche.
The fact that Angelos Anastasiades' side returned to Dublin with only one point to show for their efforts against Italy and Georgia when they might have emerged with all six, did little to quell the sense of uneasiness ahead of kick-off.
But Trapattoni was handed a boost shortly before kick-off when winger Efstathios Aloneftis, a man he had singled out as a major threat, was forced to withdraw after the warm-up, resolving in an instant the headache over whether to play Paul McShane at right-back or move John O'Shea across.
While all eyes may have been on midfielder Darron Gibson, a controversial replacement for the injured Steven Reid, it was two more established members of the Republic side which set the tone for the night.
Where Cyprus had embarrassed the Irish with their slick inter-play and movement on their last two meetings, wingers Damien Duff and Aiden McGeady took up the challenge of pinning the visitors back inside their own half, and did so to good effect during the opening 45 minutes.
It was they who combined to hand Keane the chance to give his side a dream start with just five minutes gone when the Celtic man picked out his Newcastle counterpart and he supplied the perfect right-foot cross for Keane to head unopposed into the empty net.
But the torment did not end there for a strangely subdued Cyprus team with Duff shooting straight at Giorgallides after 17 minutes and McGeady forcing him to beat away a stinging drive 10 minutes later.
However, it was defender Andreas Constantinou who almost unwittingly doubled Ireland's tally 10 minutes before the break when his attempt to block a McGeady cross sent the ball looping over his own keeper, although Elia bravely headed off the line under intense pressure from Duff.
For their part, the visitors were a shadow of the team which had wrought such havoc in the past, although Given had to make a superb reaction save from striker Konstantinou after Duff had sliced Konstantinos Makridis' 15th-minute cross high into the Dublin sky.
Anastasiades' response was to shuffle his pack, with Andreas Papathanasiou coming on for late replacement Lambros Lambrou at the break and Georgios Panagi following him seven minutes later.
However, it was the home side who continued to hold the upper hand, although Richard Dunne had to make a solid block to prevent Given from having to deal with Christofi's well-struck 50th-minute volley.
The Manchester City defender came to the rescue again eight minutes later, denying Konstantinou after Makridis and Papathanasiou had opened up Ireland for the first time in the game.
Cyprus, with newcomers Papathanasiou and Panagi particularly prominent, were starting to find their range to stretch Ireland repeatedly.
But McGeady could, and perhaps should, have calmed the nerves with 15 minutes remaining when he was handed the chance to cap an enterprising night in style.
Glenn Whelan picked him out in space on the right and with Giorgallides advancing, he chipped the ball over him with the outside of his right-foot, only to see it sail agonisingly just over the crossbar.
The ever-industrious Kevin Doyle forced a one-handed save from Giorgallides with six minutes remaining, but it was Given who excelled himself once again at the death, blocking Christofi's goalbound drive with his legs.
Giorgallides kept out Duff in injury time after Keane had launched a counter-attack from his own half, but just as the tension became almost unbearable, the final whistle brought welcome relief.
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GAME 4: REP OF IRELAND 2-1 GEORGIA, Croke Park, 11 Feb 2009
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Two late goals from Robbie Keane gave Ireland a 2-1 victory over Georgia in their World Cup qualifier at Croke Park, writes RTÉ's Glenn Mason.
It had been the captain who had confidently suggested this week that Ireland could top this group ahead of world champions Italy. However, on the basis of this poor performance that was a wildly misplaced boast.
Still as Giovanni Trapattoni pointed out yesterday, a win is always more important than a performance. That is just as well, as Ireland had trailed to Alexander Iashvilli's early goal with less than 20 minutes to go.
Ireland were lacklustre for much of the first hour and struggled to break down a Georgian defence that was excellently marshalled by AC Milan's Kakha Kaladze. Trapattoni's refusal to go with any creativity in the middle of the field did little to help matters.
Credit must also go to their coach Hector Cuper, who has done much to improve his side since the first meeting in Mainz in September. He was only denied a famous victory by a dubious penalty decision and a striker whose confidence has been restored.
That optimism of early in the week was made to look foolish as Ireland got off to an appalling start when Iashvili gave the visitors a shock lead. Stephen Kelly failed to clear a flick-on from David Siradze and Iashvili poked home from close range to silence Croke Park.
Tight defending has been Trapattoni's mantra and he will also been annoyed at his centre-back pairing of Richard Dunne and John O'Shea, who failed to cover themselves in glory when picking up Siradze.
Kelly, who had taken the place of Paul McShane at right-back, was looking nervous early on and another mistake forced Given into denying Iashvili a second.
Much of what was good from Ireland came from man-of-the-match Aiden McGeady, yet the Celtic winger delivered nothing but frustration in the opening half.
As the half wore on, central pairing Keith Andrews and Glenn Whelan became less like statues and more involved in attacking play. And it was Andrews who thought he had brought his side level after 25 minutes.
However, the Blackburn Rovers midfielder's 20-yard effort was disallowed for an offside against Kevin Doyle. Television replays showed that the decision was harsh, as the ball had taken a deflection of Zurab Khizanishvili.
Ireland went close again when Giorgi Lomaia gathered a header from Keane at the second attempt following good play by Kevin Kilbane and Whelan.
Lomaia was called on again in the 41st minute as he denied McGeady a fine individual goal. The midfielder picked up the ball in his own half, shook off a few tackles but had his 20-yard shot pushed away to safety.
Given proved his class once again as he saved from Levan Kobiashvili to prevent Ireland going into half-time break two down.
The angst did not abate after the break, as Georgia riled Ireland with and without the ball. Ireland had plenty of possession but little in the way of guile, which was needed to break down a stubborn opposing defence.
On the hour mark, Ireland responded to the crowd's pleas and upped their game, with McGeady twice going close. His first effort was saved by Lomaia, while the second clipped the side-netting.
Ireland drew level in controversial circumstances. Referee Jouni Hyytia awarded Ireland a penalty for handball against Ucha Lobjanidze even though Keane had apparently been flagged offside. The skipper stepped up and sent Lomaia the wrong way for his 36th international goal.
Ireland will say that they deserved the goal for their persistence in attacking, but the manner of it will be galling for Cuper and his players. Once the first goal arrived it was almost inevitable that second would follow and so it proved six minutes later.
Keane again proved that he can deliver at international level when he escaped the attentions of David Kvirhvelia to head in McGeady's corner.
Rafael Benitez may have deemed him surplus to requirements at Liverpool, but Keane is the main reason why Ireland are now level with Italy and on who our world Cup dreams rest. When his team needed him, he delivered.
Despite some jittery moments near the end, Ireland held on for what could turn out to be the most crucial three points gained in this group.
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GAME 5: REP OF IRELAND 1-1 BULGARIA, Croke Park, 28 Mar 2009
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An own goal from Kevin Kilbane gave Bulgaria a vital point and a 1-1 draw in this 2010 World Cup qualifier at Croke Park, writes RTÉ Sport's Glenn Mason.
Richard Dunne put Ireland ahead inside the opening minute when he headed home after John O'Shea flicked on Stephen Hunt's free-kick.
The visitors got a deserved equaliser on 74 minutes when Stiliyan Petrov's shot was deflected past Shay Given by Kilbane's knee.
It was disappointing for Ireland to concede in this way, but it was the least Stanimir Stoilov's side deserved on the balance of play.
They arrived in Dublin without star player Dimitar Berbatov and fellow frontman Valeri Bojinov, but left Croke Park with their qualification hopes still intact.
The point keeps Ireland well placed in Group 8 but it was a chance lost as Giovanni Trapattoni's side now face three tough away games, starting with Italy on Wednesday night in Bari.
Dunne gave Ireland the perfect start inside 40 seconds after Hunt had been fouled on the left. Hunt took the free himself and the Manchester City centre-half lost his marker, Igor Tomasic, to head O'Shea's flick-on beyond Dimitar Ivankov.
The visitors responded well to going behind and proceeded to dominate possession and territory for the rest of the opening quarter.
With captain Petrov orchestrating moves in the centre of midfield, Bulgaria looked the side more likely to score next. Indeed Petrov tested Given with a 25-yard effort as early as the fourth minute.
Ireland were fortunate to be still in front after 27 minutes when they were carved open down their left flank. Stanislav Manolev outpaced Hunt and Kilbane and pulled the ball back into the box but Blagoy Georgiev's tame effort was saved by Given.
Bulgaria threatened again on 35 minutes after a misjudgement by Kilbane allowed Stanislav Angelov in at the back post. However, Dimitar Rangelov's finish lacked composure and he failed to find the target.
Hunt was the main hope of a second Irish goal in the first half, as Keane and Doyle were well marshalled by Iliyan Stoyanov and Tomasic.
Ireland improved after the break and Keane could have doubled the advantage on the hour but he was denied by Ivankov after Doyle headed on.
McGeady had had a quiet first half but his influence grew after the break and he had a glorious chance to put the game beyond Bulgaria after 67 minutes.
Ivankov flapped at Hunt's cross gifting the ball to McGeady, but the keeper redeemed himself by stopping the Celtic midfielder's rebound.
Bulgaria got a deserved equaliser on 74 minutes but in fortuitous circumstances as Kilbane put through his own net. Radostin Kishishev found Petrov unmarked at the back post and his shot deflected off Kilbane and past a helpless Given.
The game could have gone either way in a frantic finale as both sides pushed for a winner. Keane wasted two good chances and Doyle tamely headed at Ivankov from a cross by Keith Andrews with Ireland's best chance of the game.
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GAME 6: ITALY 1-1 REP OF IRELAND, Bari, 1 April 2009
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Robbie Keane kept the Republic of Ireland's dreams of automatic qualification for the World Cup alive with a last-gasp equaliser to deny ten-man Italy victory.
The Tottenham Hotspur striker stabbed home an 87th-minute shot at the San Nicola Stadium to claim a point that keeps Ireland within touching distance of the Italians at the top of Group Eight.
It also ensured manager Giovanni Trapattoni a share of the spoils against his home country and the man who replaced him as national boss, Marcello Lippi.
The reigning champions took an 11th-minute lead through Vincenzo Iaquinta despite having had striker Giampaolo Pazzini sent off with only three minutes gone.
But Ireland refused to give up and got their reward at the death as they retained their foothold in the race to make it to South Africa next summer.
Early drama has become a feature of Ireland's recent games with Poland and Georgia stunning the hosts at Croke Park by taking the lead within minutes of kick-off and the Republic reversing the trend with Richard Dunne's opener only 40 seconds into Saturday's 1-1 draw with Bulgaria.
However, with Italian coaches Lippi and Trapattoni having prepared painstakingly for an eagerly-anticipated contest, both had their plans ripped apart before their players had broken sweat.
Kevin Kilbane, whose late own goal had handed the Bulgarians a point on Saturday, clattered into Pazzini within a minute and was perhaps fortunate to escape a yellow card.
The striker, making his first senior start for his country, was not quite so lucky two minutes later when he caught John O'Shea with a flailing arm, which drew blood and the red card from German referee Wolfgang Stark's pocket.
Replays suggested the decision had been harsh, a view certainly shared by the home supporters, who had earlier jeered Lippi for his refusal to select Bari-born Antonio Cassano.
But if Trapattoni sensed an opportunity, his hopes were dashed within eight minutes as the world champions demonstrated their class in devastating style.
The mercurial Andrea Pirlo received the ball from full-back Fabio Grosso and delivered it perfectly back into the defender's path to allow him to drill a cross through the ineffectual Paul McShane.
Iaquinta was unmarked in the middle to dispatch the simplest of chances and any perceived advantage for the visitors had been wrenched from their grasp.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, it was the supremely organised Italians who were dominating the game and Trapattoni uncharacteristically opted for a change with only 22 minutes gone.
The Republic boss has stuck rigidly to his favoured system since deciding that was how best to make use of the players at his disposal.
But in withdrawing Andy Keogh, who had started wide on the right in place of the injured Aiden McGeady, and sending on Hull City striker Caleb Folan, he shuffled his pack.
Keane dropped into the hole between a three-man midfield and frontmen Folan and Kevin Doyle, and the change at least gave them a foothold in the game.
Midfielder Keith Andrews scuffed a 31st-minute effort wide when he should have done better and Stephen Hunt forced a fine save from Gianluigi Buffon with a half-volley five minutes before the break.
Few in green either on the pitch or in the stands would have been too disappointed to see Pirlo replaced by Angelo Palombo for the restart and he was quickly followed by Darron Gibson and Andrea Dossena as the two managers sought to out-manoeuvre each other.
Hunt, who was soon to be joined on the pitch by brother Noel as Doyle made way, had ambitious appeals for a 56th-minute penalty waved away after he went down under Buffon's challenge but Ireland were at least starting to make an impression.
But it was not until an enthralling final ten minutes or so that the home side wavered and, when they did, Ireland finally took advantage.
Kilbane saw an 84th-minute shot deflected over as the Italians became increasingly edgy at the back and their anxiety was to increase markedly as time ran down.
They finally cracked three minutes later when Folan made a nuisance of himself as he pursued Given's long clearance and, when the ball broke from a scramble, it fell to the right man in the right place.
Keane needed no second invitation to stab home the 38th goal of his senior international career and send the travelling supporters behind Buffon's goal into raptures.
It might have got even better in the final minute of the game when the stranded keeper could only look on imploringly as Glenn Whelan's shot looped up off one of his defenders and dropped just wide.
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GAME 7: BULGARIA 1-1 REP OF IRELAND, Sofia, 6 June 2009
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Richard Dunne kept the Republic of Ireland on course for the World Cup finals as his side scrapped their way to a hard-fought draw in Bulgaria.
The Manchester City defender, who also scored in the corresponding game at Croke Park in March, headed the visitors in front 24 minutes into a pulsating encounter in Sofia.
But once midfielder Dimitar Telkiyski had levelled five minutes later, after an error by kevin Kilbane, the Irish were forced to defend for dear life to retain their five-point lead over the Bulgarians in Group Eight.
Giovanni Trapattoni's men, who would have gone to the top of the group ahead of World champions Italy with a win, remain in pole position to claim at least second spot, with Bulgaria, who have played a game fewer, still to go to Cyprus and Italy.
Ireland arrived at the Vasil Levski Stadium having yet to lose a competitive game under Trapattoni and knowing a positive result on the night would edge them ever closer to South Africa.
For 25 minutes, the 70-year-old Italian must have been thrilled with what he saw as his side not only held their own at a venue where they had never previously tasted victory, but took the game to their hosts.
Despite the inclusion of big names Dimitar Berbatov, Martin Petrov and Valeri Bojinov, who all missed the 1-1 draw in Dublin through injury, it was the visitors who made the early running.
Winger Stephen Hunt forced the game's first save with only six minutes gone when he met Damien Duff's cross with a downward header at the far post, and Bulgaria keeper Dimitar Ivankov was called upon again seconds later when Caleb Folan sent in a firm shot from the edge of the box.
Skipper Robbie Keane was unable to hit the target after spinning smartly to connect with Dunne's header down from an 11th-minute Duff corner and, as Folan caused panic in the heart of the Bulgaria defence, the signs were good for the Irish.
The Hull striker's physical presence made life intensely difficult for central defenders Igor Tomasic and Ilian Stoyanov, who at times resorted to less than legal methods in an attempt to stop him.
However, there was nothing they could do to prevent the visitors from taking the lead with 24 minutes gone after Hunt had been tripped by Stanislav Angelov wide on the left.
The winger dusted himself down before curling in a free-kick that Dunne met unopposed and gleefully headed into the net, with John O'Shea visibly blocking Berbatov's attempts to track Dunne.
Martin Petrov might have levelled within a minute but lifted his shot from a tight angle over Shay Given's crossbar, but the battle had been joined and Ireland were forced to weather a storm from then until the break.
The Bulgarians levelled within five minutes of Dunne's opener when Telkiyski capitalised on a misunderstanding between Kevin Kilbane and Sean St Ledger to run on to Ilian Tomasic's long ball and beat the advancing Given comfortably.
And, with Angelov pulling the strings from central midfield and Berbatov prowling menacingly from deep, the alarm bells were ringing.
Dunne had to head a Bojinov shot away and then intercept Angelov's cross just before his Manchester City team-mate could pounce with Bulgaria now in full swing.
Given got his body firmly behind a long-range strike from Radostin Kishishev in injury-time and the whistle came as a welcome relief for Ireland and their fans.
It was no surprise when the Bulgarians resumed where they had left off and O'Shea, playing at right-back to accommodate St Ledger in the middle, endured a challenging start to the second half as Martin Petrov got the bit between his teeth.
However, the Manchester United man twice within quick succession proved up to the task to dispossess the City man before he could do any real damage.
The pressure was mounting all the time and it took some heroic defending from Dunne in particular to keep the home side at bay.
But the Republic had a let-off with 57 minutes gone when Angelov picked out Berbatov in space at the far post with 57 minutes gone, only for the striker to miscontrol and allow Given to step in.
Ireland were marooned inside their own half but they were defending manfully in the face of a concerted assault.
However, Bulgaria were struggling to create clear-cut chances and were becoming increasingly desperate, and Stoyanov blasted just over from 25 yards with 20 minutes remaining.
The Irish wall did its job to keep out substitute Blagoy Georgiev's 77th-minute free-kick in a tense finish, with Bulgaria dominating possession but meeting stern resistance all the way to the whistle.
Indeed, substitute Aiden McGeady almost snatched victory at the death with a right-foot shot that whistled inches wide.
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GAME 8: CYPRUS 1-2 REP OF IRELAND, Nicosia, 5 September 2009
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Robbie Keane was the Republic of Ireland's hero once again as he snatched victory in Cyprus to keep the World Cup dream very much alive.
The striker glanced home Damien Duff's 83rd-minute cross to claim his 40th senior international goal and three precious points, just as it looked as thought Ireland would have to settle for a fourth successive draw on the road.
Keane's winner came as news of victories for Group Eight leaders Italy and third-placed Bulgaria filtered through, and will send the Republic into their remaining games - against the Italians and Montenegro at Croke Park next month - knowing second place is there for the taking, and top spot is not beyond them.
Ireland have played a game more than both the reigning world champions and the Bulgarians, but remain just a point adrift of the former and five ahead of the latter.
Giovanni Trapattoni's men were in front within five minutes when Kevin Doyle fired home a fifth-minute opener, but Marios Elia levelled after 30 minutes after Shay Given had pulled off a fine save to deny Ioannis Okkas.
Ireland had chances to win the game before Keane did just that - goalkeeper Sofronis Avgousti denied Glenn Whelan with a superb 50th-minute stop - but they were made to work hard for a win which had the travelling fans inside the GSP Stadium dreaming of South Africa as they departed.
Ireland could hardly have got off to a better start as they forced Cyprus on to the back foot, just at they had done at Croke Park in October last year.
Full-back Andreas Avraam had little option but to concede a fifth-minute corner as Doyle closed on Duff's cross, and the visitors took full advantage.
John O'Shea met Stephen Hunt's cross beyond the far post and headed it back into the mix, and after Keith Andrews' shot had been blocked, Doyle turned and smashed the loose ball past Avgousti.
The lead might have lasted just two minutes, however, had in not been for Given's athleticism, the Manchester City goalkeeper arching his back to claw away Okkas' goal-bound header, earning the good fortune which came his way when Chrysostomos Michail completely miskicked as the ball was fed back across.
It was dangerman Efstathios Aloneftis who had provided Okkas with his chance, and while he was kept quiet for much of the first half by O'Shea and Hunt, when he did get himself into the game down the left, things happened for Cyprus.
The equaliser duly arrived from that flank with half an hour gone when, after Dunne had dispossessed Okkas inside the penalty area and Sean St Ledger had blocked Avraam's shot, Elia made no mistake to lash the ball into the far corner.
Ireland's response was swift and concerted, and they might have regained the lead had Andrews' 36th-minute effort from distance been a foot closer to Avgousti's right post or had Kevin Kilbane been able to keep his header a fraction lower seconds later.
Konstantinos Charalambides headed over at the other end five minutes before the break, but Trapattoni's men left the pitch at half-time knowing the game was very much there for them to win.
Just as they had done in the first half, Ireland started strongly in the second, and might have been back in front twice within the opening five minutes.
First Hunt headed a Duff cross into the side-netting from an acute angle, and then Whelan forced Avgousti into a top-class save with 50 minutes gone.
Keane's knock-down from Doyle's cross fell perfectly for the Stoke midfielder, who struck it first-time towards the top corner, only for the goalkeeper just to get his fingertips to it.
There was an anxious moment for the visitors, however, with 61 minutes gone when Okkas looked to have got marginally the better of Dunne as the pair raced into the box shoulder to shoulder and the striker ended up on the floor.
But Austrian referee Thomas Einwaller was not impressed, much to the annoyance of the locals.
Trapattoni replaced Hunt with Aiden McGeady with 23 minutes remaining, although the winger's first contribution was to concede a corner from which Charalambides should have done better.
Cyprus substitute Nektarios Alexandrou carved his way into the Republic's penalty area within a minute of his arrival and might have caused serious damage had O'Shea, who looped a header just over seconds later at the other end, not intervened in the nick of time.
But it was left to Keane to do what he has done so often in the past, beating Avgousti to Duff's 83rd-minute cross to glance a header home and send the travelling fans into raptures.
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GAME 9: REP OF IRELAND 2-2 ITALY, Croke Park, 10 October 2009
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STUDIO PANEL MATCH ANALYSIS (Worldwide)
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.
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.
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GAME 10: REP OF IRELAND 0-0 MONTENEGRO, Croke Park, 14 October 2009
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STUDIO PANEL MATCH ANALYSIS (Worldwide)
The Republic of Ireland ended their World Cup qualifying group with a disappointing draw with Montenegro at Croke Park.
Paul McShane upstaged centurion Shay Given as Ireland ended their World Cup Group Eight campaign unbeaten.
The defender unwittingly blocked Montenegro midfielder Simon Vukcevic's goal-bound 66th-minute shot with his arm, but Slovakian referee Vladimir Hrinak missed the incident - and Ireland survived.
Richard Dunne had earlier hit the bar with a first-half header, but only after the visitors' captain Branko Boskovic had headed wide with just Given to beat.
The first stage of the Republic's qualifying mission therefore ended with a whimper as a sixth draw to go with their four wins ensured they head into next month's play-off games without a defeat to their names.
But on a night when Given and full-back Kevin Kilbane made 100th appearances for their country, there was little else to cheer.
Given did at least manage to negotiate the 90 minutes without picking up a booking, which would have ruled him out of the first leg of the play-off, but manager Giovanni Trapattoni saw midfielder
Martin Rowlands carried off with what looked like a bad knee injury.
Trapattoni had insisted in the run-up to the game that he would take no risks, other than the calculated gamble on Given, with those players walking a disciplinary tightrope - and he was as good as his word as Aiden McGeady and Keith Andrews did not even make the bench.
Having seen his side book their place in the play-offs courtesy of Saturday's 2-2 draw with Italy, the Republic boss made no fewer than six changes - handing the likes of McShane, Rowlands, Liam Miller and Noel Hunt another chance to impress in a competitive game.
Rowlands, however, was back in the dressing room within 39 minutes - arriving in agony on a stretcher after catching his studs in the turf and twisting his knee.
But by the time the manager and the rest of the players got there, the midfielder's plight would not have been the main topic of conversation.
There was little other than pride resting on tonight's result, and for long periods the contest had the air of a friendly about it.
But if the home side ever thought Montenegro, who claimed their first ever competitive victory at the weekend when they beat Georgia, would lie down and accept their fate they were to be sadly disappointed.
Trapattoni's men went close with 27 minutes gone when Stephen Hunt picked out Damien Duff in acres of space wide on the right.
The Fulham midfielder raced into the box - but with Robbie Keane and Noel Hunt begging for a pass, he shot harmlessly into the side-netting.
The Irish were almost made to pay for the miss within seconds when Nikola Drincic's swerving long-range effort flicked off Sean St Ledger's head and briefly threatened to wrong-foot Given.
But the Ireland goalkeeper heaved a huge sigh of relief as Montenegro sensed their chance, with unmarked captain Boskovic heading wastefully wide from full-back Milan Jovanovic's cross.
After a promising start, Ireland had lost their way - and it was not until the final few minutes of the half that they flexed their muscles once again.
Dunne was unfortunate to see his towering header from Stephen Hunt's 42nd-minute free-kick come back off the underside of the bar, and Keane fired over on the turn as the Republic put the squeeze on.
Trapattoni's men returned in determined mood but continued to find Montenegro difficult to break down - and with Milorad Pekovic looking to hit lone striker Andrija Delibasic and attacking midfielder Vukcevic with a series of long balls, they had to remain alert at the back.
Drincic made sure Given remained on his toes with another long-range effort which sped just past the goalkeeper's right post with 58 minutes gone, but opposite number Vukasin Poleksic had to get down well to keep out Keane's snap shot on the hour.
However, it was then that the home side enjoyed their major stroke of good fortune.
Full-back Elsad Zverotic's pass found Vukcevic in space inside the box, and he elegantly evading lunging challenges from St Ledger and Dunne before shooting towards goal.
But apparently unseen by the referee, his effort cannoned back of McShane's arm and went unrewarded by a whistle.
If anything, the visitors enjoyed the better of the game as time ran down.
But neither side really threatened to snatch all three points in a tame conclusion which was in stark contract to the one the home fans at Croke Park witnessed on Saturday.
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PLAY-OFF FIRST LEG: REP OF IRELAND 0-1 FRANCE, Croke Park, 14 November 2009
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A deflected effort from Nicolas Anelka gave France a 1-0 win over Ireland in the World Cup play-off at Croke Park.
Anelka's 72nd-minute strike, which was deflected past Shay Given by the unwitting Sean St Ledger, was enough to condemn Giovanni Trapattoni's side to their first defeat of the qualifying campaign and send the French into Wednesday night's return with a lead and a precious away goal.
In truth, it was scarcely more than Raymond Domenech's side deserved after a dominant second-half display which at times left the Irish chasing shadows.
They might have won more comfortably had striker Andre-Pierre Gignac not sliced horribly wide with the goal at his mercy with 10 minutes remaining.
However, it took a fine last-gasp save by keeper Hugo Lloris to deny Glenn Whelan an equaliser as a bumper crowd of 74,103 at Croke Park dared to believe once again.
If France had arrived in Dublin with any doubts about the determination of the Irish to pile on the misery for under-pressure coach Domenech, they were dispelled within seconds of their emergence at Croke Park.
Thierry Henry and his team-mates were greeted by a sea of green and a wall of noise, and the commitment off the field was more than matched by the efforts of the men on it.
Ireland knew they could not compete with the French for brilliant individual skill or blistering pace, and so they concentrated on what they do best - harrying, pressing and generally making a collective nuisance of themselves.
Inevitably, the visitors held sway for much of the opening half-hour as the dangerous Anelka dropped deep on the right before either cutting inside or feeding marauding full-back Bacary Sagna, while Henry's searing speed and the brawn of central striker Gignac were constant threats.
But the doggedness of central defenders Richard Dunne and St Ledger - coupled with that of the two men immediately in front of them, Keith Andrews and Whelan - proved enough to limit France's front three and impressive playmaker Yoann Gourcuff.
Of course, there were occasions when Domenech's men were simply too good for the Irish - Dunne was spared punishment for a major error of judgement when he allowed Eric Abidal's 11th-minute clearance to bounce over his head and Gignac gleefully lobbed Shay Given, only for an offside flag to ruin his big moment.
Gourcuff warmed Given's hands with a well-struck 25th-minute snap-shot, while Gignac and Henry both fired wide as the Irish keeper enjoyed a relatively quiet first 45 minutes.
Opposite number Lloris was equally, if not more, under-employed, although he did not see the flag which had gone up for a foul by Kevin Doyle marginally before Robbie Keane ran on to his flick and forced a brave point-blank save before Liam Lawrence's follow-up was deflected behind by Patrice Evra.
Keith Andrews curled a 31st-minute effort two feet wide, but the tie remained finely balanced as the two sets of players headed for their respective dressing rooms.
The French resumed at break-neck pace and very nearly carved the Republic open within seconds as Evra, Henry and Anelka combined to set up Sagna to cross, but John O'Shea made sure it was he who made contact in the middle.
Ireland responded by instigating a goalmouth scramble which saw Keane and Kevin Kilbane both denied by blocks, although once again a flag came to France's rescue.
However, they took that as their cue to make a concerted push and after Given had made a regulation save to deny Gourcuff, he saw Lassana Diarra's 56th-minute thunderbolt fly inches wide and then plucked Anelka's drive out of the air within seconds.
Evra was devastated to have 69th-minute penalty appeals waved away after going down under Given's challenge as he pursued Gourcuff's through-ball.
But the opening goal finally arrived with 18 minutes remaining as France made their dominance pay, although with the help of a cruel twist of fate.
It was Gourcuff who once again fashioned the opening, picking out Anelka on the edge of the box, and his shot deflected off St Ledger past the helpless Given and in via the upright.
Gignac should have made it 2-0 with 10 minutes remaining when he was presented with an open goal after
Anelka had charged down Given's clearance, but he shot wastefully wide and out for a throw-in.
That might have proved costly had Lloris not produced a brave block to deny Whelan three minutes from time and then pushed away another dipping effort from the midfielder, but there was no way back for the home side.
The final whistle brought angry exchanges on the pitch, but it was the men in blue who were celebrating.
Republic of Ireland: 1-Shay Given; 2-Sean St Ledger, 4-John 0'Shea, 5-Richard Dunne, 3-Kevin Kilbane; 6-Glenn Whelan, 7-Liam Lawrence (17-Stephen Hunt 80), 8-Keith Andrews, 11-Damien Duff (12-Aidan McGeady 76); 9-Kevin Doyle (18-Leon Best 71), 10-Robbie Keane.
France: 1-Hugo Lloris; 2-Bacary Sagna, 5-William Gallas, 3-Eric Abidal, 13-Patrice Evra; 6-Lassana Diarra, 18-Alou Diarra; 9-Nicolas Anelka, 8-Yoann Gourcuff, 12-Thierry Henry; 11-Andre-Pierre Gignac (15-Florent Malouda 90+1).
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PLAY-OFF SECOND LEG: FRANCE 1-1 REP OF IRELAND, Paris, 18 November 2009
AET - France win 2-1 on aggregate.
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STUDIO PANEL MATCH ANALYSIS (Worldwide)
William Gallas fired a relieved France into the World Cup finals as a controversial winner shattered the Republic of Ireland's brave resistance.
The Arsenal defender struck from close range 13 minutes into extra-time to finally kill off Ireland's hopes of springing a major upset.
Skipper Thierry Henry controlled the ball with his hand before picking out his team-mate in front of goal, but Swedish referee Martin Hansson and his assistant saw no offence.
The goal cancelled out Robbie Keane's 33rd-minute opener as Ireland threatened to dump the 1998 winners out of the competition with a spirited display, which saw them first wipe out France's first-leg advantage and then go close to overhauling it through Keane, John O'Shea and Damien Duff.
But ultimately, it was Gallas who proved the hero on the night as the Republic, who felt hard done by to be playing seeded France in the first place, succumbed to the cruellest of exits on a night when they did manager Giovanni Trapattoni and the whole country proud.
Victory over the course of the tie spared France manager Raymond Domenech further abuse, although when the dust settles, his critics may be far from appeased.
Keane had been at pains to insist at Ireland's pre-match press conference at the Stade de France that the tie was far from over, and while his confidence was commendable, few outside the Irish camp were completely won over by his optimism.
But by the time the half-time whistle sounded, the men in green both on and off the pitch were starting to believe.
Lassana Diarra's assertion in Dublin, which caused such consternation, that the tie was over, proved hugely inaccurate as the French turned in an insipid display in which they enjoyed far less possession than they did at Croke Park and did virtually nothing with it.
Republic keeper Shay Given was a virtual spectator for much of the half, and as the men in front of him grew in confidence, it was the visitors who started to make an impression.
Patrice Evra had already had to climb high to prevent Liam Lawrence from connecting with Duff's 18th-minute cross and the Stoke midfielder, once again preferred to Aiden McGeady on the right, was in the thick of the action once again six minutes later.
He met Kevin Doyle's cross at the far post to head the ball down for Keane and only the vigilance of keeper Hugo Lloris, who rushed from his line to punch clear before the striker could pounce, spared France.
There was panic among Les Bleus once again with 26 minutes gone when Lawrence crossed from the right and Doyle glanced a header across the face of goal.
It was all very encouraging for the Irish, and their prayers were answered 13 minutes before the break.
Duff was gifted acres of space on the left to make his way to the goal-line before looking up and picking out Keane with the perfect pass.
The striker gleefully side-footed the ball past Lloris and into the bottom corner to set France back on their heels and blow the tie wide open.
Domenech's side attempted to respond but their reaction was lukewarm, and the home crowd, having booed both their own manager and President Nicolas Sarkozy when their respective images appeared on the stadium's big screens, repeated the dose as the teams left the pitch at the break.
Their mood would have taken a significant turn for the worse had Ireland made the most of a glorious opportunity within two minutes of the restart.
Trapattoni and his players had spoken repeatedly about France's perceived weakness from set-pieces in the run-up to the tie, and they had been disappointed not to exploit it at Croke Park on Saturday.
But they very nearly did just that when Lawrence curled a 47th-minute free-kick to the far post where the unmarked O'Shea, perhaps astonished to be given so much time and space, controlled on his chest only to volley high over.
Once again the French response was tepid, and although Given was called upon to make his first real save with 54 minutes gone, Anelka's long-range effort never troubled him.
But as the home side pushed men forward, they became increasingly vulnerable, and Trapattoni's men were presented with a gilt-edged opening with 61 minutes gone.
Lawrence's defence-splitting pass put Duff in on goal, but the winger was denied by the impressive Lloris as he pulled off yet another vital stop.
Anelka glanced a header wide at one end and Keane rounded Lloris but could not get in a shot at the other as the game became increasingly frantic.
Given had to claw away an Anelka cross deep into injury time, but Ireland more than deserved their extra 30 minutes.
However, Ireland's luck deserted them 13 minutes into extra-time when Henry handled Florent Malouda's delivery before crossing for Gallas to score.
