Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni hailed the performances of his young guns - and one 'old timer' after a convincing and comfortable win over Wales last night.
Trapattoni's side upped the tempo after a tame and goalless first half to power to a 3-0 victory in the opening Carling Nations Cup fixture at the Aviva Stadium.
Superb strikes from Darron Gibson and substitute Keith Fahey sandwiched another effort from the game's outstanding player, Damien Duff, as Gary Speed suffered defeat in his first game as Wales manager.
The goal from veteran Fulham winger Duff was the 31-year-old's first for his country for five years while debutants Ciaran Clark and Seamus Coleman, 21 and 22 respectively, also caught the eye.
Trapattoni said: 'It was a positive result and we deserved it.
'It was important to achieve this with two or three young or new players.
'They played well and showed good personality and they did what I wanted of them.
'Duff also gives the team personality, this is important.
'Players like him are very important at international level and we can win with players like him.'
Ireland now turn their attention to the visit of Macedonia next month as they look to build on their solid start in Group B of Euro 2012 qualifying.
Trapattoni said: 'Macedonia play different football but we have to believe we have the potential.
'Our team is a good team and we can play good football.'
Ireland -- Given, O'Shea (O'Dea 85), St Ledger, Dunne, Clark; Coleman (Fahey 57), Gibson (Wilson 81), Whelan (Green 76), Duff (Keogh 71); Walters, Doyle (Long 45).
Wales -- Hennessey, Eardley (Gunter 45), D Collins, J Collins, Ricketts; King, Vaughan (Ledley 60), Crofts; Church, Earnshaw (Easter 80), Robson-Kanu (Eastwood 67)
Ireland international winger Damien Duff is due to return to training next week as he steps up his recovery from a calf injury that forced him to miss Ireland's recent European qualifiers against Russia and Slovakia.
The 31 year old Dublin born international has been sidelined for the past month, but could be back for the home clash with Aston Villa on Saturday week.
Fulham Boss Mark Hughes said: "He should be joining in training on Monday and by the weekend we're hoping he'll be an option for us."
It remains to be seen if Duff will be fit enough for inclusion in the Ireland squad for the upcoming friendly against Norway on November 17th.
Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni will have to plan for crucial Euro 2012 qualifiers against Russia and Slovakia without the services of Damien Duff and Keith Andrews, who were today both ruled out of the double header.
Both players arrived in Dublin ahead of the match but after scans were sent back to their clubs. Fulham winger Duff is struggling with a calf injury, while Andrews has an ongoing groin complaint. Both players missed the opening two qualifying matches through injury.
Duff picked up a head wound in Saturday's draw with West Ham before subsequently appeared to be limping as he left the pitch 20 minutes before the end. Andrews also had to sit out Blackburn's visit to Stoke.
Less than six days before Ireland’s crucial Euro 2012 qualifier against Russia, Richard Dunne has provided a welcome boost for manager Giovanni Trapattoni after playing the full 90 minutes for Aston Villa against Spurs today.
But there may well be concern among Trapattoni's management team over Damien Duff, who picked up an injury during Fulham’s 1-1 draw at West Ham. Duff limped off 20 minutes from time holding his left calf. The winger missed the wins over Armenia and Andorra last month with a calf injury.
Dunne, who missed the last two Villa matches with a knee injury, was restored to the heart of Villa’s defence but was unable to prevent his side losing 2-1 at White Hart Lane this afternoon.
Dunne was up against Roman Pavlyuchenko, who he is likely to face in Dublin next Friday, and was fortunate not to concede an early penalty when the Russian’s shot hit his hand, the referee deciding it was unintentional.
Marco Tardelli’s recce to the Britannia Stadium, where Stoke faced Blackburn, turned out to be a wasted trip.
The Irish midfield partnership of Glenn Whelan and Keith Andrews had been due to go head-to-head but Andrews was an unused substitute while Whelan was only introduced in the 90th minute as Stoke won 1-0.
Elsewhere, Keith Fahey made a rare start for Birmingham against an Everton side with Seamus Coleman in their ranks. And it was the defender who will enjoy the bragging rights when the squad assembles in Malahide tomorrow night as the Toffees recorded their first win of the season, ending Birmingham’s 18-month home unbeaten run.
Kevin Doyle will have to wait for his first league goal of the season after Wolves were beaten 2-0 at Wigan. James McCarthy, overlooked by Trapattoni for the qualifying double-header, started for Wigan.
In the Championship, Keith Treacy opened the scoring for Preston against Reading but the Royals earned a point when Ian Harte's corner was only half cleared and Jem Karacan fired home. Liam Lawrence was also on the scoresheet, his late penalty enough to grab Portsmouth a point against Middlesbrough.
Darren O’Dea, who has already been ruled out of the Ireland squad, was in line to make a surprise appearance for Ipswich but suffered a recurrence of the knee injury he picked up during training with Ireland last month in the warm-up at Portman Road.
“Darren has been struggling with a knee problem since he went away with the last international squad,” explained Ipswich manager Roy Keane after the 2-1 win over Leeds. “We thought we’d take a chance but as soon as he went out for the warm-up he said he was struggling.”
Ireland, who top Group B with a maximum six points, meet Russia at the Aviva Stadium next Friday before facing Slovakia in Zilina the following Tuesday.
The injury worries are mounting for Giovanni Trapattoni ahead of Ireland's October World Cup qualifiers against Italy and Montenegro.
Fulham have confirmed that Damien Duff will be out of action for two to three weeks after picking up a calf injury in last weekends defeat to Arsenal at Craven Cottage.
This is likely to ensure that Duff will miss the Ireland v Italy game on October the 10th, however the hope is that Duff may recover in time for the second of the World Cup qualifiers against Montenegro on Wednesday 14 October.
Meanwhile Hull City's Calab Folan has also emerged as a serious doubt for the crucial Group 8 games. The striker, currently on-loan at Middlesbrough, tore his hamstring at training and could be sidelined for up to six weeks.
Fulham have completed the signing of Newcastle's Ireland winger Damien Duff for an undisclosed fee.
The 30-year-old made his name at Blackburn, where he played under current Fulham boss Roy Hodgson, before moving to Chelsea for £17m in 2003.
Duff then moved to Newcastle in the summer of 2006 for £5m.
"I am delighted to add a player of his calibre to our squad and welcome the further midfield options he provides us with," Hodgson told Fulham's website.
"I have known Damien for over a decade since he broke into the first team at Blackburn when I was manager, so I'm fully aware of his qualities and I am looking forward to working with him again."
Duff added: "I know that having spoken to the manager in recent days that the club's ambitions remain high and I am looking forward to the challenges ahead."
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson hopes to seal a deal for Damien Duff after confirming his interest in the Irish winger.
Hodgson has stated that Fulham are in discussions regarding the former Chelsea man, who previously worked under the Cottagers boss at Blackburn.
Duff, 30, is said to be keen on a move back to London and he could be on the verge of a reunion with his ex-manager.
"The clubs are talking and I hope the deal will go through. He's a player that interests us," said Hodgson.
"Damien and I go back a long way from when we worked together at Blackburn. He wants to come back to West London.
"Damien had injury problems at Chelsea and has done well at Newcastle given the turmoil there.
"Every time he's played for Ireland he's consistently been one of their best performers.
"We know what we'd be getting with Damien - he's an experienced and quality player."
Ireland captain Robbie Keane has warned his team-mates not to get ahead of themselves as they look ahead to their World Cup showdown with reigning champions Italy next Wednesday.
The 28-year-old Dubliner will lead his side into their Group Eight clash with Bulgaria on Saturday evening focusing only on the three points which will maintain the pressure on Lippi's Italian team ahead of their meeting in Bari next Week.
Ireland and the Italians are locked together on 10 points at the top of the table, separated only by the holders' superior goal difference, and a win for either next week could play a major role in deciding which of them qualifies automatically for the World Cup finals in South Africa in 2010.
However, while Keane cannot wait to go into battle with the group favourites in a test of just how far Ireland have come under Giovanni Trapattoni, he knows the three points at stake at Croke Park tomorrow are equally, if not more important.
He said: "Of course, it's a big test, but we need to get over the first hurdle first against Bulgaria.
"That is what we are concentrating and focusing on, and then we will focus on Italy.
"Of course, it is going to be a tough game. They are champions and it's going to be a tough game, but these are the games as a player you want to be involved in.
"You want to play against the best teams and the best players, and Italy certainly have them.
"That's something we are looking forward to - after the Bulgaria game."
That same message has been drummed home by Italian Trapattoni, who will send his team out, as he always does, with the intention of winning, but under orders not to return empty-handed.
He continued: "We have to do everything possible to win. How we play is not important; the result is important.
"We will look to win, but it will be important not to lose because on Wednesday in Italy, we will have another very, very great game."
Ireland have put themselves in an great position to secure at least a play-off spot with a run of three victories and a draw in their first four games, and another win would send them into successive trips to Italy, Bulgaria and Cyprus brimming with confidence.
Keane said: "Belief comes with results. When you are winning games, that brings belief into the squad and the belief we can go on and win games no matter who we are playing against, and you have seen that over the last four games.
"As long as we believe, no matter who we are playing against, we can go out there and get the three points and win the game, that's all that matters.
"Certainly in this campaign, the belief has come through winning games."
The depth of Trapattoni's Ireland squad will be severely tested over the next few days with influential midfielder Damien Duff back in Newcastle recovering from a hamstring injury, and Aiden McGeady still touch and go with a badly-bruised foot.
Reading winger Stephen Hunt will replace Duff, while Wolves striker Andy Keogh is on stand-by if McGeady does not make it.
Sunderland's Paul McShane seems likely to resume at right-back in place of Stephen Kelly, although Trapattoni is yet to reveal his final decision.
But while his side will be presented with a series of fresh challenges, there is no doubting the desire and commitment within the squad to capitalise on a promising start to the campaign.
Keane has repeatedly spoken of his failure to understand the ongoing club v country debate, and admitted the experiences of he and many of his team-mates have simply increased their patriotism.
He said: "Maybe so, because you have to go away at a younger age and go away to England.
"When you leave Ireland and you are in England, you become even more so because you miss your home and you miss the people, and that hurts.
"I would probably say so - but I am sure other countries would question that.
"It's a massive honour. You ask any player in our squad, or any player in any other's country's squad how important it is to play for your country."
Damien Duff has been ruled out of Ireland's World Cup qualifiers against Bulgaria and Italy with a hamstring injury.
Thursday evening's shock news was a big blow to Ireland boss Giovanni Trapatonni before the important group 8 games against Bulgaria and Italy.
There had been no suggestion of any problem with Duff's fitness and Aiden McGeady remains a fitness doubt because of a foot injury, but goalkeeper Shay Given will be fit.
Reading winger Stephen Hunt looks certain to replace Duff in the starting line-up.
McGeady took only a limited part in training on Thursday and faces a fitness test on Friday.
Wolves midfield Andy Keogh is in line to come into the team if McGeady is ruled out.
Duff picked up the injured in training on Wednesday and a scan on Thursday morning revealed that he is likely to be out for two weeks.
After a long injury-affected spell, Duff has returned to impressive form for in recent games.
The Newcastle winger's withdrawal was confirmed by Republic assistant Liam Brady on Thursday evening.
Duff returned to Newcastle after getting the results of the scan.
Manager Giovanni Trapattoni is already minus injured defender Steve Finnan who misses out because of a hamstring injury.
Ireland take on Group Eight leaders Italy in Bari four days after the Bulgaria game.
The Italians are ahead of Trapattoni's team on goal difference with both teams locked on 10 points after four games.
The Football Association of Ireland are no longer having to consider making new travel arrangements for the Republic squad's trip to Bari.
Airports in Ireland had been expected to be affected by a nationwide strike on Monday - the day that the squad are scheduled to travel to Italy.
However, the strike threat has now been averted.
Newcastle caretaker boss Chris Hughton says that Damien Duff is ready, willing and able to drive the Ireland side all the way to the World Cup finals in South Africa.
Duff has given Giovanni Trapattoni a boost ahead of Saturday's World Cup qualifier at home to Bulgaria, when he completed 90 minutes for Newcastle in their 3-1 defeat at home to Arsenal, Duff's first taste of action in a month.
The Dublin born player has started in the last three Ireland games under Trapattoni and will win his 73rd cap against Bulgaria at Croke Park before heading to Bari for that crucial game against Italy on April 1st.
And Duff's current club manager, former Ireland assistant boss Hughton, says that Duff's current form can lead Ireland to the World Cup for the first time since 2002.
"Damien is the player Ireland need if they are to get to the World Cup again, and if Damien stays fit for the rest of the campaign I can see him playing a big role for Ireland," Hughton said today.
"He's back to fitness now after being out for a few weeks, Newcastle missed him badly when he was out but he's come back at a good time for Ireland and he will be a key man in the next two matches.
"When you look at the Irish squad, you look to the ones who can make a difference, come up with one thing in a game that could change the course of a match and the campaign, and Damien is like that.
"Ireland are lucky in that they have some big occasion players like that, someone like Robbie Keane can get a goal from anywhere, Kevin Doyle has tremendous form, Aiden McGeady is always dangerous.
"But Damien is one who can create something out of nothing. When Ireland need him he's there and he's a vital player for the squad, he will be very important as the team look for those points against Bulgaria and Italy."
Giovanni Trapattoni assembled his squad in Dublin this morning before an afternoon training session at their Malahide training base and the Irish boss was relieved to see Duff report for duty, though there are some concerns over the fitness of Shay Given and Aiden McGeady.
"Both McGeady and Given are undergoing medicals at their clubs, but I'm sure they will be available for the next training," said Ireland's assistant coach Marco Tardelli.
"Given has a shoulder problem, but I'm sure he will be here for the Bulgaria game."
Meanwhile the FAI have prepared a contingency plan to deal with possible travel chaos on Monday due to a planned strike at Dublin airport.
The Irish squad are due to fly out to Bari at 4pm on Monday but they may need to change their plans if the strike goes ahead, and the panel may instead leave 24 hours early, from Belfast, or else fly out on Tuesday.
"We have at least two options available to us if Monday turns into a difficulty," said FAI CEO John Delaney.
"One would be going Tuesday from Dublin and one would be going Sunday, probably from Belfast. We're in constant contact with SIPTU and the DAA and they are keeping us advised."
Bulgaria only fly in to Dublin on Friday, 24 hours before the game, and the Italian squad will only arrive in Bari from their Tuscany base at 5pm next Tuesday, so Delaney says that coach Trapattoni is not worried about a late arrival.
His club may have just slipped into the relegation zone in England's Premier League, but Newcastle United's caretaker manager Chris Hughton believes that Damien Duff is coming into the kind of form which can drive the Republic of Ireland all the way to the World Cup finals.
Despite the result, a 3-1 defeat at home to Arsenal, Saturday was a big day for Duff as the 30-year-old managed his first full 90 minutes for United in almost two months, and he arrived in Dublin today for international duty ahead of the World Cup double header against Bulgaria and Italy high on confidence, according to Newcastle's stand-in manager.
"Damien is doing very well for us. The only disappointment is when he picks up an injury, which he has done on a couple of occasions this season.
"But his progress has been superb in the last while and he is back to his best, to the stage when he was one of the best players around, in my view," Hughton told the Evening Herald.
"Damien is the player Ireland need if they are to get to the World Cup again, and if Damien stays fit for the rest of the campaign I can see him playing a big role for Ireland.
"When you look at the squad, you look to the ones who can make a difference, come up with one thing in a game that could change the course of a match and the campaign, and Damien is like that. Ireland are lucky in that they have some big occasion players like that, someone like Robbie Keane can get a goal from anywhere, Kevin Doyle has tremendous form, Aiden McGeady is always dangerous.
"But Damien is one who can create something out of nothing. When Ireland need him he's there and he's a vital player for the squad," added Hughton, who worked with Duff in his time as assistant manager with Ireland under Brian Kerr from 2003-2005.
"He's a vital player for this club and for me. The thing that stands out with Damien is that he always wants to do well, he is so gutted when he is out injured and all he wants to do is play and win games for this football club.
"He has been out for the last few weeks but in all that time his attitude was exceptional, he was the ultimate professional, he worked hard all the time to try and get himself back. Every time he has been out it's been a big blow for him, and I think it makes him appreciate it even more when he does get back," added Hughton.
The former Tottenham full-back has some empathy with Giovanni Trapattoni and his coaching staff this week ahead of that massive double header in Dublin and Bari -- Hughton was part of the Irish staff the last time the Republic tried to qualify for a World Cup finals.
Results under Kerr and Hughton were impressive, with just four defeats in 33 games and only one loss in a competitive game, but Ireland still finished fourth in the qualifying group table, behind France, Switzerland and Israel.
"It's a tough group that Ireland have now but the team have had a good start and could get there under Mr Trapattoni. When the group was drawn up I always felt there was at least a chance for second place for Ireland, Italy were going to be favourites to win the group, but Ireland will really challenge them, especially over the next two games," said Hughton
"The team has excelled, especially as the manager hasn't had his full pick of players in some games, key people like Steve Finnan have been missing, so when you take that into account I think Trapattoni has done very well."
Giovanni Trapattoni attended two matches in England on Saturday ahead of selecting his Ireland squad for the World Cup qualifier against Georgia.
The Italian joined Alan Kelly at the early kick-off game between Preston North End and Burnley.
Kelly has a long-standing relationship with Preston, but the impressive recent performances of Sean St Ledger could have been the reason for Trapattoni's presence.
He then made the short trip to watch Blackburn Rovers play Newcastle United, with the form of Keith Andrews and Damien Duff high on the agenda.
Meanwhile, Keith Fahey made his debut for Birmingham City in their 1-1 draw with Cardiff City at St. Andrews.
The former St Patrick's Athletic midfielder replaced fellow Irishman Lee Carsley with seven minutes to go.
There were goals aplenty for Irish players across the pond today, with Rory Delap's strike at Stamford Bridge for Stoke City the highlight.
Alan Lee, Owen Garvan, Wes Hoolahan,Anthony Pilkington and Darren Potter were on target for their Chamionship respective clubs.
It was mission accomplished for Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni when he gave his assessment of the 1-0 win over Cyprus at Croke Park on Wednesday in the 2010 World Cup qualifier.
“This is a great victory,” said the Italian. ”I said to my players on Tuesday that, tomorrow we look to play well, but the result is most important. The performance comes and goes but the results stays.
“We got a great start with the goal but we stopped playing a bit. The last time we played Cyprus here we drew 1-1 and Ireland lost 5-2 in Cyprus as well. In future, we can play with more confidence.
"I thought Cyprus pushed and pushed. Cyprus played well. All their players played well with confidence. Our defenders were very strong. We didn't have any real difficulties. I like Cyprus though. They have a lot of good players.
“But we got this very important win and I want to congratulate the players because they played the final minutes with so much heart.”
He added: "Damien Duff is one of the stronger players in the team. I thought (Aiden) McGeady had great qualities too. Their specialty is running down the wings but I thought they suffered a bit with two in the centre of midfield.
“In this team we haven't had time to look and check out another scheme like three in midfield or another player in attack. In November, in the friendly (against Poland), we maybe look at the three in midfield.”
