O’Neill determined to cash in

After 90 minutes as a Georgia fan Martin O’Neill is now plotting their downfall when Kakhaber Tskhadadze leads his side out at the Aviva Stadium on Monday night.

O’Neill kept upto date with the match in Tbilisi as he prepared his side to face Gibralter.

Valeri Kazaishvili’s first half goal gave the Georgian’s their first home win in the group with Ireland taking full advantage by sticking four goals past the flag of convenience from Southern Spain.

With Robbie Keane hoisting his international tally to 67 the scene is set for an epic night in Dublin where a win over Georgia while Scotland host Germany would put Ireland into poll position to grab a play-off spot for next summer’s final stages in France.

Looking back on a dramatic night in Group D O’Neill revealed: “I said before that any team going to Tbilisi was going to find it difficult. There wasn’t any big cheer in the dressing room when the result came through but I’m sure it gave the players a lift. I don’t think there was ever going to be a lack of focus but it certainly rekindled our focus because, regardless of that result, we had to win here.

“And I was concerned about this game because Gibraltar have improved and I think they showed that before half-time when they might have got an equaliser – Shay made a good save and Cyrus Christie got an important touch to a cross – but we won well in the end.”

Last night’s double meant that Keane has scored an international goal in each of the last 18 calendar years with the LA Galaxy striker getting the scent of another final’s appearance.

Keane and Shay Given are still going strong after amassing 267 caps with the veteran striker believing that Aiden McGeady’s double away to Georgia in the opening fixture could prove vital.

“We said before the game we had to be patient, we knew it was going to be difficult,” the striker admitted looking at last night’s victory. “They are a very different team from when we first played them so all credit to them. There’s still a long way to go but we got the job done. Monday will be a massive game. The three points in Georgia at the start of the campaign could be massive.”