Keane hits double to keep Irish dreaming

THE biggest and most significant cheer of the night might have been for Scotland’s defeat in Georgia, but captain Robbie Keane’s double ensured Ireland’s play- off destiny is now in their own hands.

The 35-year-old took his international tally to 67 with the goals which ensured Martin O’Neill’s men are now third in Group D and a point above the Scots with three games to play.

Cyrus Christie had earlier put the visitors ahead with his first for his country but Gibraltar proved no pushovers until Keane intervened. Substitute Shane Long headed a late fourth.

Ireland, though, were made to work for their first win since beat- ing Gibraltar 7-0 in Dublin last October. They threatened from the off but were unable to find a breakthrough.

Robbie Brady seized a 25-yard free-kick and looked to have given his side an early lead only for Jordan Perez — a fireman — to douse Irish excitement with a flying one-handed save.

The stalemate was as much to do with Ireland’s errant finishing as it was the home side’s resistance and the unmarked Keane crashed a volley into the side-netting.

The longest Gibraltar had held out before conceding in qualifying was 28 minutes against Germany and they were just 90 seconds shy of that mark when Ireland broke the deadlock.

Derby full back Christie drifted into the area and his cross- cumshot trickled inside the far post.

Shay Given would have expected a trouble-free night but the veteran keeper had to work to preserve his side’s lead until half-time.

Former Portsmouth midfielder Liam Walker was Gibraltar’s best bet for offensive flair and his volley had Given scrambling to shovel round a post.

But any notion of a shock result was put to bed within six minutes of the restart. Keane scored his first with the easiest strike of his 18-year career, tapping in after Jean Carlos Garcia had turned a cross on to a post.

Hoolahan was then tripped by Walker inside the area and Keane slotted home from the spot. And Long added some gloss to the scoreline when he headed in Jeff Hendrick’s delivery.