Read about Ireland's 3-0 victory over Algeria at the RDS with our minute-by-minute text commentary.
By Ed Leahy
Feel free to let us know what you're thinking; all opinions welcome to sportonline@rte.ie.
21.40 So two wins in four days for Ireland as Trap's side sign off the season with a very easy 3-0 win against another side that are going to the World Cup. Good to see that the best teams in the world are going to South Africa... At least, this Irish team look like they really want to play for the jersey and for the boss so things are at least looking good for the upcoming European Championships campaign.
Not much football now for another two weeks when the World Cup kicks off but if you need a quick fix, get down to Dalymount Park tomorrow to see the biggest game in Irish football as Shamrock Rovers travel to Dalymount to take on Bohemians. Good night.
FULL-TIME REP OF IRELAND 3-0 ALGERIA
92 mins Ref blows up for full-time. Good victory for Trapattoni's side. First time in three years that Ireland have scored more than two goals.
90 mins Keane just announced as man of the match. No surprise there really although no one player has really stood out.
89 mins Algeria free into box easily taken by Murphy to get his first touch.
86 mins Trap must think that this is in the bag as he changes keeper. Joe Murphy on for Westwood who will be very happy with his clean sheet. Shane Long on now as well.
85 mins Keane did a bit of an Aldo shuffle before taking the penalty, which, apparently, is banned from the World Cup.
85 mins GOAL IRELAND ROBBIE KEANE Another long ball over the top. Keane runs onto it and gets in on goal. Last defender appears to get a toe on the ball but takes Keane out at same time. Penalty. Keane dusts himself down and slots the ball home.
82 mins Free for Algeria from just outside the box but Saifi hits the wall. Ball not cleared and Guedioura smashes a great header off the bar. Very unlucky there.
80 mins Another well-worked free from Ireland sets sub Andrews up to shoot. didn't connect properly and hits the side netting but keeper had it covered.
78 mins You'd have to feel sorry for the Algerian support who've made the journey to Dublin to watch their team put in a very poor shift. Algeria shooting into the end where they are located so hopefully for them, they might get something to cheer before the end of the game.
77 mins Nice play by Sherridan to send Keane down the wing. Cracking tackle by Bellaid to clear.
73 mins Kevin Gough has emailed to plug his children's book The Legendary Bear in which John Aldridge has a starring role by all accounts.
72 mins Sherridan on for Doyle. Great ovation for Doyle going off. Well player again, Mr Doyle. Sherridan should enjoy all these long balls coming in on top of him. Twenty minutes to shine for the Cavan man.
71 mins Algeria get another half-chance as Boudebouz makes a big difference since coming on. Easy for Westwood though.
69 mins Another long ball and Algeria cannot cope. Again Doyle to Keane, who trys to lob the new keeper, but just too soft an effort. Keeper nearly falls backwards into the net when he collected.
64 mins Sub Fahey for Duff. Interesting to see how Faa-hey can get on with the best part of 30 mins to impress the gaffer. Putting him out left, obviously doesn't see the former Saint doing a grafting shift in the middle. Probably the right decision, now Fahey might get a bit of space to show what he can do. A lovely player to watch on the ball is Fahey and hits a decent shot when gets a chance as well.
63 mins Algeria defence all over the place and cannot hangle Westwood's long balls. Doyle gets a great flick on and puts Keane in on goal. Flicks it past the keeper but onto the post and Keane cannot latch onto the rebound.
61 mins Keane through on goal and smashes a great shot with his left from a very difficult angle. Good save the keeper. First thing he's done all day. Ball may have been going just wide but great effort.
59 mins Attendance just short of 17,000 - wonder if this game in the Aviva would get many more?? 17,000 in Croker would look ridiculous. Surely 30,000 would have paid into the Aviva for a game like this.
57 mins Ball over the top as Doyle runs onto it. Not enough pace to get clear and swallowed up by the back-tracking Algerians.
54 mins Snap shot from Algeria from Ziani makes Westwood work. Decent save and pushed clear of danger zone.
51 mins That really was an exquiste finish by Keane. The technique required to keep the pace off the ball and still lift it over the keeper is top class. Most would have slashed at that but that sort of thing is what Keane is one of the best at.
51 mins GOAL IRELAND ROBBIE KEANE. Great ball into box from left by Duffer and keeper comes out waving for a taxi and fumbles the ball. Keane on hand to lift it over the keeper into the roof of the net.
49 mins Weak header clear by Cunningham results in Algeria's first official attempt on goal. Ball blasted well over - if that was deemed an attempt, they are really grasping at straws.
48 mins Duff breaks and puts Keane in down the left. Nice pull back for Lawrence but well blocked and cleared just before Doyle could let loose.
46 mins And we're back. No changes at half-time but forgot to mention John O'Shea went off injured in first half, replaced by Darren O'Dea. Algeria open well in the secong half and win free in same place as where Ireland scored from. Portsmouth's Belhadj whips in a decent ball to the far post and Westwood does just enough to clear. Bit close for comfort there.
HALF-TIME: REP OF IRELAND 1-0 ALGERIA
45 mins Algeria pump another into the box which is easily taken by Westwood. Has to be said that Westwood isn't afraid to come off his line and appears to have very safe hands. Not the tallest of keepers either but a great spring in his jump gives him a few extra inches. Solid first half from Westwood and Ireland in general as the ref blows for half-time and Ireland go in leading at the break thanks to Green's brave header.
43 mins Algerians probably cannot believe how much time they have on the ball in the midfield as the two banks of four sits and beckon them to come on. There's something very Mourinho about the way Ireland defend. I don't like it but it's working so far and Algeria haven't been able to play through, instead trying little flicks over the top - bread and butter for the Irish, I can imagine some of the Irish fans muttering in the stands.
39 mins Algeria go long this time and Ireland nearly caught out as Ghezzal takes ball into the box. St Ledger again makes a cracking tackle to clear. That's like a goal to a centre-half says John Aldridge in the commentary. So that's 2-0 to Ireland now, eh John. Only messing I know what he means, it was a perfectly timed challenge that would have been a penalty if he got it wrong.
35 mins Another free in an identical position for Ireland, this time Lawrence goes for a bit more height. Keeper and defender get in each other's way as ball cleared. more shaky defending there from Algeria, but this is the reason they've come to play Ireland to learn how to play this sort of game ahead of the England clash. The coach has plenty of time to work out how best to play this style of in-your-face football.
33 mins Looking at the replay and there were two Ireland players just off as the ball was played in. Not Doyle though who timed his run to perfection. Well spotted there Lino.
31 mins GOAL IRELAND Paul Green dives in to head the ball home after a lovely, well-worked free from Ireland on the edge of the box. Duff and Lawrence set up free and Lawrence clips it across the box and Green flies in to head home taking a right smack on the head for his troubles.
29 mins Good chance for Algeria to get in there but St Ledger gets back between ball and goal and clears. Good defending there.
28 mins Another ball over the top and Keane just beaten to it by keeper Chaouchi who comes out of his box and sort of knees it clear. The English boys won't be too worried watching this display from their World Cup opponents.
25 mins Speaking of the stopper Westwood, he has had nothing to do but gathers a cross there and pumps it up the fiels which nearly results in a great chance for Robbie Keane. Spin of the ball takes it away from Keane's feet. Great kicking ability there from Westwood.
23 mins Ball out of play, gives me a minute to bring some good news from the wires: 'Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given is confident of being fit for the start of the new season after a check-up revealed his recovery from shoulder surgery is ahead of schedule'. Good stuff, Shay. It would be nice to have you back for the Euro openers, no disrespect to Mr Westwood, of course.
21 mins Ireland attack down the left and Duff lets fly from the corner of the box. A bit wishy washy to be honest, one of those ones that bounces a couple of times before reaching the goal. Ball dribbles wide past the far post.
19 mins Bit of delay here as some clown has run onto the pitch - TV doing their usual not showing the offending gentleman. Got a glimps of him there and you'll be pleased to know that he was fully clothed. Couldn't say which team he's supporting but likely to find himself out on the lonely streets of Ballsbridge within the next few minutes - or the back of a paddy wagon, pending on his behaviour once apprehended.
17 mins Another little ball over the top well read this time by the Algeria defence and ball cleared.
15 mins Keane breaks into the box and is a bit indecisive, ends up chipping one to the keeper.
13 mins Ireland go long again and Keane almost gets in. That's the third time Ireland have looked at that option and plenty of space behind the Algeria defence so it's an option that might bear fruit at some point in the game.
11 mins Ziani looking to set up attack for Algeria - Looks like a nice player. Nice passing around the midfield but cannot penetrate the Ireland defence.
9 mins Few early touches for Cunningham - looks composed on the ball and a nice left foot ball down the line sets Doyle clear. Holds the ball up well and nice ball played into box but Chaouchi deals with the cross, catching and kicking downfield.
7 mins Ghezzal goes down in installments looking for a free but the ref isn't having it, telling him to get up. Duff breaks with the ball and a few tasty Algerian challenges come in and Ireland win a free. Don't want to encourage any sort of bad tackles but it looks the type of game that one mis-timed tackle could spark this game into life.
5 mins Plenty of Algeria possession work ball up the left wing. Striker Ghezzal linking up play well. Ireland defend well and win throw in and clear.
3 mins Lovely free into box from Duff. Doyle makes the perfect runs and latches onto the ball with a quick snap-shot with the left foot. Keeper Chaouchi tested and does well to gather. Good start to Ireland.
2 mins St Ledger takes a smack in the face as the centre-forward introduces himself. Great cross-field ball to Duff from John O'Shea. Duff gets control and wins a free.
19.45 Ireland, in home green jersey and white socks kick-off, left to right. Algeria white shirts, green shorts. Game on.
19.40 Just about to get going now in the RDS. Huge Algeria support inside the stadium - about 3000 have made the trip from all over Europe and the USA. Looking like they're enjoying themselves as well. Green and white all over the stadium as both sides play in the same colours.
18.30 Good evening, folks. There is just over an hour to go now to kick-off at the RDS where Ireland take on Algeria in their final game of the season before a well-earned summer break. Giovanni Trapattoni has named another strong starting XI with Greg Cunningham making his debut with Paul Green getting his first start in midfield.
Teams
Rep of Ireland: Westwood, Kelly, St. Ledger, O'Shea, Cunningham, Lawrence, Whelan, Green, Duff, Doyle, Keane.
Replacements: J. Murphy, B. Murphy, Foley, Stokes, Sheridan,
O'Dea, Long, Andrews, Fahey.
Algeria: Chaouchi, Bellaid, Mesbah, Halliche, Belhadj, Mansouri,
Lacen, Guedioura, Ziani, Ghezzal, Djebbour.
Replacements: M'Bohli, Boudebouz, Saifi, Laifaoui, Kadir,
Abdoun.
Referee: Eric Braamhar (Netherlands)
