Keano Hat-Trick Ends Lansdowne’s Reign

By Aidan Begley

Before the San Marino game, under the management of Steve Staunton, Ireland needed to produce a convincing performance against the European whipping-boys.
After a baron period in front of goal, Robbie Keane increased his record goals tally for the Republic with a hat-trick to give the boys in green a 5-0 victory, their first in their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign – and also Steve Staunton his first competitive win as manager of Ireland.
A deflected Andy Reid free-kick and Kevin Doyle’s first goal for the Republic made up the goals tally as the expected but it was far from a brilliant performance from Staunton’s men against such mediocre opposition, but it gave the fans something to sing about in the rain as they said farewell to their familiar, though dated, old ground.
The Republic’s top scorer, Keane has now got 29 goals from 70 appearances and with an international hat-trick under his belt, his confidence will be renewed when Ireland travel to San Marino next February to hopefully secure another three points before they take on Wales at Croke Park the following month.
Ireland’s matches now move to Croke Park while Lansdowne undergoes a major redevelopment.
When Keane pounced from close-range five minutes before the end of the San Marino game, he become only the seventh player to score a hat-trick for the Republic of Ireland. The last man to do it was David Connolly (remember him?) against Liechtenstein in May 1997.
Boss Steve Staunton felt his Republic of Ireland side could have scored more but declared himself happy with the 5-0 Euro 2008 win over San Marino.
“We were a bit sloppy at times but overall did a professional job and that was all we could do. More pleasing though was Germany only drawing 1-1 in Cyprus. I knew there would be points dropped along the way but it was come early for them.
“There is a long way to go and we have to keep battling to pick up points. We now have a couple of month’s break from the international game before we head to San Marino and then next year we have some huge games to play.
“We’ll also be playing at Croke Park, which after all the wrangling that went on, it’s great to be able to play in one of the biggest stadiums in Europe. It’ll be a great occasion to play in front of the largest football crowd that we’ve probably ever had in Ireland.”
Hat-trick scorer Keane admitted his haul was the perfect way to bid farewell to Lansdowne Road.
“We knew it was important to keep the ball moving as fast as we could and that is why we got our goals. It is always nice to score early. Once we got that goal we knew the pressure was off us and we could play with a bit more freedom.
“It was great to get a hat-trick, especially as we were saying goodbye to Lansdowne. I remember going to watch games there as a kid and it made we want to play for Ireland so much and to be able to score three goals it’s a special moment for me.”
Former England boss Sir Bobby Robson says surgery on a brain tumour left him unable to stand up and left him fearing for his future in football.
The Republic of Ireland's consultant had surgery in August that left him without the use of his left arm and he still feels effects from the treatment but the former Newcastle manager is adamant the time is right for him to return to work.
“After surgery I knew from a health point of view I wasn’t going to be in the best situation. I could not even stand up and I could not move my left arm, but I still wanted to be involved in the game.
“I did not want to retire. I have been involved in football for over 50 years and I want a few more in it yet,” said Robson, 73, who is also honorary president of his former club Ipswich Town.
“I knew how much I wanted to come back but also realised there was a chance I couldn’t. I am three-quarters of the way there now and I want to get back to 100 per cent. Even now, if I lift my left arm 10 times I am tired.
“I have neuro-physiotherapy every day. It takes an amazing amount of energy to fight back. I have basically had to regenerate my brain to teach my arm and leg to work again. But I have got my speech and I still feel competent in my head.”
“I just knew I had to come back now because I knew it would be good for me. The reason I took this job with the Republic of Ireland was to have another couple of years in the game at the top level.”
It was another eventful year for Irish football with the departing of Brian Kerr and the appointment of Steve Staunton, but following a promising start to his career as an international manager when Ireland defeated Sweden in his first game in charge, it went downhill with a number of defeats including an embarrassing loss to the hands of Cyprus.
Next year sees Ireland ply their trade at Croke Park and with the likes of Germany and Wales due to visit Dublin in 2007, the Republic are still in with a chance of reaching Euro 2008, but it’ll take a lot of hard work and determination to get there.
Hold back from booking those tickets to Austria and Switzerland just yet!