Armenia 0 Republic of Ireland 1: So Keith Fahey so good as Giovanni Trapattoni gets off to perfect start

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPdFGTbOuM8endofvid

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By Colin Young reports from Yerevan

Green delight: Kevin Fahey is mobbed by team-mates after scoring the winner


If it's good enough for the world champions, it's good enough for Giovanni Trapattoni.

Just as Spain won the ultimate prize in South Africa with some 1-0 victories, so the Republic of Ireland began their Euro 2012 bid with the perfect result last night.

It was a hard-fought win, coming courtesy of Keith Fahey's first international goal just five minutes after the Birmingham City midfielder had come on for Aiden McGeady.

Ireland had already survived a number of scares against a side who will be awkward at home for Russia and Slovakia. Richard Dunne headed against his own bar and the Aston Villa defender, Sean St Ledger and Kevin Kilbane all made several important blocks to quell the lively Armenians.Shay Given also made one crucial save.


Wizard: Aiden McGeady tires to slide past Ararat Arakelian


Fahey, who only came into the squad in the summer, produced an ice-cool finish when a loose ball fell to him in the area after Kevin Doyle's dogged run.

Now with Andorra at home on Tuesday, Ireland are surely about to make the perfect start after two matches.


Feet first: Robbie Keane stretches for the ball ahead of Robert Arzumanyan


Trapattoni was unable to contain his delight even though he had trouble pronouncing his goalscorer's name. He joked: 'For me it is Fackey or Fahey. It doesn't matter, he scored a goal.

'There are no easy games. It was very hot and our players had only one or two games this season. I knew it would be very, very difficult.

'We had difficult situations to defend but we had two great chances with Robbie Keane. It starts the season well. Being away from home it gives us confidence. We will have a different mentality against Andorra.'


source: dailymail

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