Carling Nations Cup, First Round.
Ireland 3 Wales 0
Ireland ran out comfortable winners against their Celtic counterparts Wales in a comprehensive start to the inaugural Carling Nations cup at the Aviva stadium.
Neither side really got into a game that failed to sparkle in the first half as the wet and windy conditions added to a rather flat atmosphere in a half full Dublin venue. Man of the Match Damien Duff came closest in the first half with a shot come cross that shaved the outside of Wales keeper Wayne Hennessey's upright.
Ireland produced a second half performance that was more than enough to brush aside a Welsh side bereft of ideas in attack and defensively unorganised. With Damien Duff puling the strings in midfield it was Manchester United's Darren Gibson who opened the scoring right on the hour mark with another one from his growing repetoire of scorching strikes. Ireland doubled their advantage after Welsh defender Gunther blundered unforgiveably in the penalty box allowing Wilson to rob him and square for Damien Duff who fired home.
Keith Fahey completed the scoring with a curling free kick which he bent around the Welsh wall and past the hapless Hennessey. Ireland now top the group with the other contenders Northern Ireland and Scotland set to battle it out tomorrow night in Dublin.
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