Andorra 0 - 2 Republic of Ireland: Doyle and McGeady keep the Republic on play-off course

Published on Saturday 8 October 2011 16:55

KEVIN Doyle and Aiden McGeady helped to fire the Republic of Ireland into a Euro 2012 shoot-out with Armenia.

Doyle’s seventh-minute strike and McGeady’s 20th-minute drive, which was deflected home by defender Ildefons Lima, were enough to secure a 2-0 victory in Andorra which was more comfortable than the scoreline suggests and ensures the Irish remain masters of their own destiny. Russia’s victory over Slovakia in Zilina means that three points against the Andorrans on Tuesday evening will assure them of top spot in Group B and automatic qualification for next summer’s finals.

In the unlikely event that Dick Advocaat’s men lose to the minnows, Ireland could overhaul them by completing a double over Armenia in Dublin, but the more realistic scenario is that a point will be enough to keep the Armenians at bay and send Giovanni Trapattoni’s men into the play-offs with a trip to the finals in Poland and Ukraine at stake.

Andorra: Camp, Hodson, Cathcart, McAuley, BaiA Gomez, Bernaus, Gutierrez (Lorenzo 78), Emili Garcia, Lima (Sonejee 80), C Martinez, Pujol (S Gomez 59), Ayala, Vieira, Silva, Moreno. Subs not used: P Meca, Sanchez, M Garcia, Peppe

Rep Ireland: Given, S Ledger, O’Shea, O’Dea, Ward, McGeady, Whelan (Fahey 65), Andrews, Duff (Hunt 75), Doyle (Long 71), Keane. Subs not used: Forde, Kelly, Cox, Lawrence.

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