Republic too strong for neighbours

It was scarcely a rout but then the tough work had been done in Belfast two months ago and so even last night's narrow victory at Tolka Park was more than enough to see the Republic of Ireland's Youths into their fourth consecutive European finals.

At times the two sides looked a world apart in terms of class but, as they had at the Oval, Roy Miller's side avoided what might have been a far worse night with a hardworking display during which they had to be content with containing a considerably better collection of players.

Over the course of the opening 20 minutes, however, the northerners were fortunate to do even that. Gary Doherty, who returned to the striking role he occupies at club level in England, was in sparkling form and behind him Liam Miller, Conor O'Grady and Ger Crossely looked capable of unlocking the visitors' defence.

Their quick passing moves played through the centre of a back four that hadn't entirely mastered the offside trap and twice during that opening quarter of the game their efforts should have been enough to set up the openers for the strikers.

Though the hosts continued to dominate for the rest of the half, an exchange of goals in the 25th minute might well have unnerved Kerr's side a little for, having looked incapable of conceding one up until then, they suddenly found themselves just one more slip away from being forced into extra-time.

Their error, which Miller's aside capitalised on to take the lead was, to be fair, fairly spectacular. Their dominance having perhaps induced a measure of complacency which Grant McCann punished by way of a long angled ball up field for Gary Hamilton.

The Blackburn striker then got lucky, the ball hopping back nicely for him when he tried to cut in between Jason Gavin and Peter Murphy, but to his credit he made the most of the break and slotted the rebound away into the bottom left corner before either defender had recovered sufficiently. Within seconds the two sides were level again. Colin Healy set up Ger Crossley with a cross from the right which the midfielder rose high to head past Ian Martin from around six yards and though it took until the 67th minute, when Conor O'Grady sent Gary Doherty goalwards minus his marker, for the second goal to arrive it was the locals who had always looked the more likely to get a winner.

With their elimination close at hand the visitors grew more adventurous but that, in turn, left them looking more vulnerable at the back and before the end Richie Baker, man-marked throughout the match after his outstanding performance at the Oval but much quieter this time, had drawn a good stop from Ian Martin in the Northern Ireland goal, while Colin Healy had carved open the visiting back four only to mis-time the pass inside.

Late on there were minor scares at the other end too, most notably when Paul McAreavey missed the target from inside the area and shortly afterwards Jason Gavin was forced to clear off the line. "But they were two goals behind by then," said Brian Kerr afterwards as he applauded his players off the pitch.

"We had four or five chances to finish them off early," he added with a smile "and then they took the first chance that came their way. But I thought Gerry took his goal very well and after that we were in control. Really, we were the better side through the whole thing, I thought."

Kerr will now take most of the same squad from this game to the Netherlands for an invitation tournament at the end of the month where they will get another few games under their belts in preparation for the European finals in Sweden in July.

Republic Of Ireland: Delaney (Everton); Healy (Celtic), K Doherty (Liverpool), Gavin (Middlesbrough), Murphy (Blackburn); Crossley (Celtic), O'Grady (Sligo Rovers), Miller (Celtic), Baker (Shelbourne); G Doherty (Luton), Fitzpatrick (Southend). Subs: Barrett (Arsenal) for Fitzpatrick (83 mins).

Northern Ireland: Martin; Hawe, Convery, Holmes, McKeown, Toner, McAreavey, McFlynn, McCann, Hamilton, Feeney. Subs: Hutchinson for McFlynn (34 mins), Keegan for McKeown (69 mins), Morrow for Feeney (80 mins).

Referee: L Duhamel (France).