A GREAT NIGHT IN VIENNA FOR MART

MARTIN O’NEILL’S Republic of Ireland are beginning to look the real deal. Winners of three of their first four qualifiers, the idea of O’Neill leading his men to next year’s World Cup cannot be dismissed. Six games remain in Group D and four of them will be in Dublin, where Ireland have not lost a competitive international since O’Neill took over three years ago. Austria started as the more dominant team last night, David Alaba pulling the strings in midfield, forcing Ireland on to the back foot. Marc Janko had a snap-shot saved by Darren Randolph after nine minutes, Marcel Sabitzer struck the crossbar in the 33rd and in the ensuing mess Janko failed to convert from six yards out. But even though it was one-way traffic in the early stages, Ireland gradually established a foothold in the game, Harry Arter impressing in midfield, James McClean down the left. And it was McClean who broke the deadlock two minutes into the second half, firing home after a great counter-attack led by David Meyler. “Roy Keane hammers us in training about always hitting the target,” McClean said afterwards. “So that is all I was thinking about when I was running through. If I’d missed he would have killed me! It’s huge. There are no world-class teams in this group, we will all take points off each other so to win in Austria is no easy feat. We are delighted.” For O’Neill – and Ireland – this was a good night in Vienna. The Ireland boss said: “I’ve always believed this group will be tight. Teams will still take points off each other. “I’m very, very pleased. There’s a long way to go but naturally I’m delighted. I couldn’t be more pleased with the team.”