Mission complete

World Cup 2006 qualifying: Republic of Ireland 2 - Faroe Islands 0: Since pretty much the day the then 17-year-old made his debut for the Republic of Ireland as a half-time substitute against the Czechs in Olomouc the words Robbie and record have been commonly linked whenever Irish supporters get talking, writes Emmet Malone at Lansdowne Road

Last night, a day short of six years after first senior international goal, the question was answered as the name Keane replaced that of Quinn at the top of the all-time scoring list.

The Dubliner, in fact, scored twice well before the end of the first half to bring his tally to 23 in 56 appearances. At his present rate he could go on to hit double that number in the years ahead but last night he might have done better to spread his haul out more evenly over the 90 minutes. By the end of a game that should really have been a rout there was at least at much bemusement around a packed Lansdowne Road over his failure to at least complete a hat-trick as there was admiration for his fine achievement.

Neither of the two goals he did get will go down as having been amongst the better goals he has scored in a green jersey but they were significant nevertheless with his 14th-minute penalty settling the home side.

The spot kick had been awarded after Damien Duff had skipped past three defenders only for Jon Roi Jacobsen to take his legs as he reached the right-hand edge of the six yards box. There was little doubt about who would take it - Keane had equalled the record in identical circumstances against Cyprus last month - or any question of Keane's joy as he celebrated the goal that puts him clear in the history books in the traditional manner.

"The record is brilliant," he said afterwards, "it's a great feeling. I can't really describe it. You grow up on the streets of Tallaght and dream of playing for your country so to break the record is extra special."

His second of the night followed 19 minutes later when Duff and Roy Keane linked up well outside the area before Duff swept past Pol Thorsteinsson to send in a low cross. Jacobsen was on hand again, this time stopping the ball dead as he tried to prevent it reaching the Irish striker but his efforts backfired as Keane reacted swiftly to cut inside and drive the ball home from 10 yards out.

Even before then the contest, if that is a fair description, had yielded a succession of decent scoring chances for an Irish side that was unchanged from the one that finished the game in Paris. Duff, playing up front this time, tore the largely part-time visitors apart with his running from deep positions while Andy Reid, who had dropped back to his preferred position on the left wing, showed again with his passing and good set-pieces why he is endlessly linked with a move to a Premiership club.

Finnan, an essentially defensive midfielder who had done so well on Saturday, looked slightly less suited to the more attacking role he was handed. The Liverpool player, however, still went close to opening the scoring with a free after four minutes and he performed solidly throughout. To his left, Kevin Kilbane toiled tirelessly again even if he was somewhat less effective than in Paris.

Beside him Roy Keane exerted a good deal of influence over the proceedings from the centre of the field while generally leaving the task of providing support to the strikers to others. His tussles with Julian Johnson and Frodi Benjaminsen were hopeless mismatches and the Corkman was at heart of many of Ireland best build-ups. One can only imagine he was a little disappointed by much of what was going on in front of him.

From beginning to end of what was as one-sided an international as has been played in Dublin for quite some time, the Irish overwhelmed the Faroese who, but for a good deal of poor finishing, some decent goalkeeping and a succession of last-gasp interventions, particularly in the second half, would have ended up on the receiving end of much heavier defeat.

If the opening goal settled any lingering Irish nerves, the second settled matters and injected an occasionally amusing swagger into the approach of the home side. For a while it seemed Kilbane would not beat a man unless he could also nutmegged him (Benjaminsen took revenge with his own 12 minutes from time) and there also cocky touches from John O'Shea and Finnan amongst others.

Everywhere, though, the home team was oozing confidence and it is baffling that by the end Kerr's men had not added significantly to their half-time advantage. There was no shortage of chances with the Irish winning a steady supply of ball in midfield from where they repeatedly opened up a well organised but generally poor defence although all too often as the game wore on the home side's final ball was disappointing

The visiting side's lone striker, Jonhard Frederiksberg, saw about much action as a fair weather supporter back home. All the more disappointing then that Kenny Cunningham should pick up one of Ireland's two bookings on the night for a needless foul on the striker almost on halfway eight minutes from time.

Otherwise, what came their way was dealt with comfortably by Ireland's back four. With four minutes left Benjaminsen managed the visiting side's first shot on target. It bounced awkwardly in front of Shay Given but was still easy for the goalkeeper. The bulk of the action, though, continued to occur around Mikkelsen's goal where the Irish were repeatedly thwarted by his growing composure.

With four matches played Kerr and his players will be well satisfied with a Group Four table that shows it is the Republic that has made the strongest start to this qualifying campaign.

REP OF IRELAND: Given (Newcastle Utd); Carr (Newcastle Utd), O'Brien (Newcastle Utd), Cunningham (Birmingham City), O'Shea (Manchester Utd); Finnan (Liverpool), Keane (Manchester Utd), Kilbane (Everton), Reid (Nottingham Forest); Duff (Chelsea), Keane (Tottenham Hotspur). Subs: Miller (Manchester Utd) for O'Shea (56 mins), Doherty (Norwich City) for Reid (75 mins).

FAROE ISLANDS: Mikkelsen; Thorsteinsson, Johannessen, JR Jacobsen, Olsen; Johnsson, Benjaminsen; Borg, Petersen, R Jabobsen; Frederiksberg. Subs: Lakjuni for R Jacobsen (57 mins), Flotum for Frederiksberg (83 mins), Danielsen for Borg (86 mins).

Referee: R Lajuks (Latvia).