Republic of Ireland started their Carling Nations Cup campaign brightly with a 3-0 win over Wales on Gary Speed's debut as manager.
Disappointing debut for Speed as Republic win in Dublin
Republic of Ireland made a bright start to their Carling Nations Cup campaign with a decisive 3-0 victory over Wales on Tuesday evening.
Giovanni Trapattoni's side failed to break through in a tight first half at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, but compensated by taking control after the break and leaving the visitors with no reply.
The clash marked new Wales manager Gary Speed's first game in charge of the national side, and he could only watch as a trio of second-half strikes from the hosts condemned his team to defeat.
Manchester United man Darron Gibson, on his 14th cap for the Republic, was on target for the home side in the 60th minute with his maiden goal for his country.
The midfielder produced a tidy one-two with Stoke playmaker Glenn Whelan before unleashing a powerful strike from outside the box which sailed past helpless goalkeeper Wayne Hennessy and into the back of the net.
After posing problems for the Wales defence throughout, Fulham winger Damien Duff then doubled the scoreline just seven minutes later, planting the ball home with a right-footed chip from in front of goal.
And substitute Keith Fahey wrapped up the victory by curling a superb free-kick around the Wales wall to beat the outstretched dive of Hennessy and nestle the ball into the net.
The encounter was the first game of the inaugural event, with Scotland and Northern Ireland also competing for the trophy and set to go head-to-head on Wednesday evening.
Debuts
Republic boss Giovanni Trapattoni handed Seamus Coleman and Ciaran Clark their first caps, while Speed included Reading's Hal Robson-Kanu in a three-man attack which failed to make much of an impact.
Whelan had the tournament's first effort on goal after two minutes, but his delicate chip from the edge of the box cleared the bar.
Moments later Duff came closer with a curling effort from the left which almost deceived Hennessey and appeared to clip the woodwork before going wide, but a decent start soon subsided and there was little in the way of passion.
Wales, conservative and constrained, grew in confidence as they slowly felt their way into the game, but there was still no clear-cut chance at either end.
In the 25th minute Robson-Kanu played a one-two with Andy King and then appealed for a penalty as he went down under pressure from John O'Shea as he tried to reach the return ball, but Northern Irish referee Mark Courtney was unimpressed.
On the half-hour mark Robert Earnshaw was fouled clumsily by Clark 25 yards from goal, but the Wales striker drove the resultant free-kick over the bar.
Five minutes later Doyle threatened for the first time when he drove at the Wales box before unleashing a low drive from 20 yards, but Hennessey just stood his ground and gathered.
Moments later Coleman took a free-kick from Gibson and lifted the ball into the box where Clark rose to head inches past the post from 12 yards.
Seconds before the interval Wales striker Simon Church linked up well with Earnshaw and his left-footed drive from outside the box had Shay Given happy to gather at the second attempt.
Chris Gunter came on for Neal Eardley for the start of the second half and Reading striker Shane Long replaced Doyle.
The second half was only four minutes old when Jonathan Walters fired in a drive from the edge of the box, but again Hennessey was perfectly placed to gather.
Moments later Long had the chance to make a quick impact when he was set up by Duff 16 yards out, but blazed the ball over the bar.
The game was then held up when two spectators ran onto the park, but once they had been removed by the stewards the Republic regained the ascendancy and in the 56th minute Hennessey made a good block from Duff's close-range shot, although the Fulham player looked to have lost his balance as he shot from 12 yards.
The deadlock was eventually broken on the hour mark and in some style when Gibson picked up a pass from Whelan before rifling an unstoppable shot from 20 yards high past Hennessey, who this time had no chance.
Careless
Duff made it 2-0 in the 67th minute after Gunter had carelessly been robbed by Walters on the byline.
The cutback was missed by Long and landed at the feet of former Chelsea and Newcastle player Duff and he buried it from 10 yards out.
The game appeared over as a contest, but it became increasingly disjointed as both sides rang the changes.
In the 82nd minute, after Walters had been fouled by Collins 25 yards from goal, Fahey - on earlier for Coleman - drove the free-kick past the helpless Hennessey to confirm a good night's work.
However, on this evidence Speed has his work cut out to get this Wales side knocked into shape.
