Irish win as Keane returns

Roy Keane returned to the Republic side against Romania

Republic of Ireland 1-0 Romania

Matt Holland scored a late winner for the Republic of Ireland against Romania on the night Roy Keane ended his international exile.

The Manchester United skipper returned to make his 59th appearance in a green shirt two years since his last match, which was against Nigeria.

Keane received a warm welcome from the Lansdowne Road crowd with any jeers being drowned out by loud cheers.

In the match itself, Holland sealed a 1-0 win with an 84th minute volley.

Earlier, Keane had gone close to a dream return on 50 minutes when he came within inches of scoring.

Robbie Keane's initial low drive was pushed away by replacement keeper Bogdan Stelea and when Roy Keane followed up he too was denied by a good block.

Roy Keane completed the whole game and saw Holland score his first goal at Lansdowne Road.

Roy Keane showed why we wanted him back in the team Republic manager Brian Kerr More reaction from Lansdowne Road

Liam Miller sent the ball out to the right flank where Clinton Morrison played it in to the box, Robbie Keane letting it go for Holland to sweetly find the net with his right foot.

In the first half, the Irish had a lucky escape when Romania won a corner and Florentin Dumitru was allowed a free header which he planted wide of the far post.

Twelve minutes from time Martin Rowlands of Queen's Park Rangers came on for Andy Reid to become the 10th new cap since Brian Kerr took over as manager.

The win means the Republic have been beaten just once in Kerr's 15 matches in charge.

That was the 2-0 defeat away to Switzerland in their final Euro 2004 qualifier which ended Ireland's hopes of getting to the finals in Portugal.

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Republic of Ireland: Given, Finnan, Maybury, Cunningham, O'Brien, Miller, Roy Keane, Holland, Andy Reid (Rowlands 78), Morrison, Robbie Keane.

Subs Not Used: Doherty, Clarke, Kinsella, Douglas, Kenny, McPhail, Barrett, Lee, Doyle, Colgan, Alan Quinn, McGeady.

Romania: Lobont (Stelea 45), Dumitru, Dancia (Ovidiu Petre 79), Iencsi, Radoi (Constantin 81), Soava (Barcauan 90), Dica (Alexa 79), Ganea (Daniel Niculae 88), Plesan (Neaga 61), Danciulescu (Aliuta 61), Ghionea.

Subs Not Used: Stelea, Constantin, Ovidiu Petre, Daniel Niculae, Neaga, Alexa, Barcauan, Aliuta.

Attendance: 42,356

Referee: Jaroslav Jara (Czech Republic).