Rep of Ireland 1 Norway 0
Just what the doctor ordered. Damien Duff's early first half goal extended Brian Kerr's unbeaten record to four games and granted him a winning start in his first international in charge at headquarters.
Buoyed by Russia's defeat earlier in the day to Georgia, Kerr's side controlled tonight's proceedings from the first whistle and could, and perhaps should, have beaten the visitors by a more convincing margin.
Duff, who earned the man-of-the-match accolades for his efforts on the night, was left to role free in the hole as the manager, in his first home international as senior boss, experimented with a 4-3-1-2 formation.
And the Blackburn winger's jinking runs roused the crowd from the outset as together with Robbie Keane and David Connolly, the Irish attack dissected the static Norwegian defence almost at will. And a matter of minutes into the contest, it was Keane's strike partner, Connolly, who provided the Tottenham star with the opening shot on goal.
Connolly, in fine form for his club Wimbledon, darted dangerously to the edge of the Norwegian box and flicked a deft ball into Keane's path. The striker, searching for his 15th international goal, struck first time but his effort faded left and wide of Frode Olsen's post.
Norway, happy to sit back and allow Ireland control the game, looked limited in attack with lone striker Sigurd Rushfeld ploughing a lonely furrow up front. Valencia striker John Carew threatened down the right when given the opportunity and on more than one occasion had Ian Harte in his back pocket.
Indeed, a sloppy defensive header from the Leeds defender gifted Carew Norway's first effort on goal but Shay Given, winning his 50th international cap, was alert to the danger and rushed off his line to clear into touch.
Ireland, however, were generally comfortable at the back with both Gary Breen and Richard Dunne impressing throughout. The latter, often the forgotten man of Irish football, once again stepped in at the 11th hour to turn in a rock steady display, intercepting with timely defensive headers to deny Carew and second half substitute Tore Andre Flo.
Norway's reluctance to push forward was punished after 17 minutes when Duff arrived in the box to scramble home his own blocked effort after Carr chipped the ball in from the right.
Duff was again at his silky best nine minutes from half time, laying off a ball to Mark Kinsella after darting inside two defenders. However, the Aston Villa player's effort was well parried by Olsen.
Kerr resisted making wholesale changes at the break and it was a case of as you were with Duff, Keane and Connolly starting the half as they finished the first.
Immediately after the restart, Duff, relishing the space he was afforded, raced to the edge of the box and played a delicate one-two with Connolly. However, substitute 'keeper Erik Holtan got down well to deny the Dubliner his second goal.
Nine minutes into the half Carr ripped down the flank and played a tidy ball inside to Connolly. Torius Hansen stood his ground to block the strikers effort but Carr, who collected the rebound, went agonisingly close when his effort cannoned off the bar and out of play.
Again, the Norwegians offered little in attack but the half-time introduction of Flo sparked some life into an otherwise impotent attack. The lanky striker proved a conundrum at corners but substitute 'keeper Nicky Colgan reacted well to deny the Sunderland man from close range midway through the half.
The introduction of Lee Carsley 20 minutes into the second period - for Mark Kinsella - provided more creativity in the middle of the park and he was unlucky not to score when shooting from the edge of the box following excellent work by Keane.
Kerr gifted late debuts to Sheffield Wednesday's Alan Quinn and Alan Lee of Rotherham United while Bohemians striker Glen Crowe came off the bench in the dying minutes to earn his second senior cap - his first on home soil.
Rep of Ireland: 1-Shay Given (16-Nicky Colgan 60); 2-Stephen Carr, 3-Ian Harte (13-Steve Finnan 60), 4-Gary Breen, 5-Richard Dunne, 6-Matt Holland, 7-Damien Duff (18-Alan Lee 73), 8-Mark Kinsella (12-Lee Carsley 65), 9-David Connolly (17-Colin Healy 73), 10-Robbie Keane (19-Glen Crowe 90), 11-Kevin Kilbane (15-Alan Quinn 86).
Norway: 1-Frode Olsen (12-Erik Holtan 46); 2-Andre Bergdolmo, 3-Ronny Johnsen (14-Tore Andre Flo 46), 4-Brede Hangeland, 5-Christer Basma (13-Alex Has 56), 6-Tommy Svindal Larsen, 7-John Carew, 8-Oyvind Leonhardsen, 9-Sigurd Rushfeld (18-Torius Hansen 46), 10-Trond Andersen (15-Frode Johnsen 90), 11-Steffen Iversen (17-Petter Rudi 64).
Referee: Michael McCurry (Scotland)