Keane inspires Irish victory over Finland

Some of the rancour surrounding the Irish team was lifted by a convincing win over an experienced Finnish side last night. Goals from Robbie Keane, Colin Healy and Graham Barrett rounded off an accomplished performance that will have manager Mick McCarthy looking to the future rather than dwelling on the recent past.

McCarthy had retained six of the side which started the penalty shoot-out defeat to Spain in this summer's World Cup but surprisingly there was no place for Matt Holland, who is expected to join Aston Villa for a fee in the region of £4m later this week.

With Steve Staunton now retired, Kenny Cunningham came in to partner Gary Breen in central defence, Jason McAteer given the captaincy on the night of his 50th appearance.

Jari Litmanen has been marginalised at Anfield but was the pivot for all the home side's early attacking ventures. The Sunderland winger Thomas Butler, making his debut after being pulled out of the Under-21 squad on Monday, might have opened the scoring when Keane nodded back an Ian Harte free-kick. Mark Kinsella challenged inside the box but when the loose ball fell to Butler he elected to take a touch instead of shooting first time and eventually curled his effort wide.

Finland were fairly robust in defence, Janne Saarinen blocking Keane's path as he attempted to dribble clear. However, the Leeds United striker had more luck on his next foray forward, tapping home his 14th international goal after 12 minutes.

He probably will not have had many easier either as Finland waited in vain for an offside flag when Kinsella looped a pass into the box. Damien Duff seized possession and squared across the six-yard area to Keane. who stroked into an empty net.

The goalkeeper Dean Kiely was fully extended after 27 minutes when McAteer lost possession inside the home half. Finland countered quickly and Litmanen produced a wicked curling effort from the corner of the area which Kiely turned round at full stretch.

McCarthy made five changes at the interval, Butler and Duff among those withdrawn. Litmanen was still a source of danger and, after creating space for himself on the edge of the area, curled another shot just wide with Kiely beaten. However, Ireland went to the other end and doubled their lead. Stephen McPhail looped a long ball to the far post which Healy forced home.

There was still more to come from the visitors, Healy taking Kilbane's cross-field pass in his stride, scampering across the penalty area and setting up the Arsenal youngster Barrett to score.

FINLAND (4-3-3): Jaaskelainen (Bolton); Pasanen (Ajax), Saarinen (Rosenborg), Hyypia (Liverpool), Tihinen (Anderlecht); Ilola (HJK Helsinki), Nurmela (Heerenveen), Tainio (Auxerre); Johansson (Charlton), Litmanen (Liverppol), Kolkka (Panathinaikos). Substitues: Kuivasto (Viking Stavanger), Niemi (Hearts), Hietanen (Denizlispor), Riihilahti (Crystal Palace), Kuqi (Sheffield Wednesday), Kottila (HJK Helsinki), Kopteff (Viking Stavanger).

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (4-4-2): Kiely (Charlton); Kelly, Harte (both Leeds), Cunningham (Birmingham City), Breen (West Ham); Carsley (Everton), McAteer (Sunderland), Kinsella (Charlton), Duff (Blackburn); Keane (Leeds), Butler (Sunderland). Substitutes: Kilbane (Sunderland), Doherty (Tottenham), Healy (Celtic), McPhail (Leeds), Given (Newcastle), Holland (Ipswich), Delap (Southampton), Barrett (Arsenal), Goodwin (Celtic).

Referee: R Pederson (Norway).