IRELAND THRASH ESTONIA 4-0 IN PLAY-OFF 1ST LEG

Ireland surely booked their place in next year's Euro 2012 finals with this trouncing of Estonia in Talinn.

Goals from Keith Andrews, Jon Walters and Robbie Keane twice all-but ensured qualification for a major Final for the first time since 2002.

Ireland took the lead on 13 mins when Aidan McGeady crossed for Keith Andrews to head home.
The teams were evenly matched on the pitch until Stepanov was sent off for a tackle on 35 minutes.
Thereafter, Ireland began to dominate play, although they persisted with the use of the long-ball when playing it on the ground would have been much the better option.
Jon Walters, winning his third cap for Ireland, had three shots on goal in the first-half.
Estonia's danger-man Vassiljev was a thorn throughout and he struck a shot just wide midway through the half.

Estonia started the second half needing to get back in the game, being the home team, and they put Trapattoni's Ireland under pressure at times with some neat passing and running.

However, it was Ireland who scored again when Robbie Keane collected the loose ball from a McGeady shot to loop the ball over to Jonathan Walters who headed the ball over the line for Ireland's 2nd goal.

Four minutes later Robbie Keane tapped in a fierce Keith Andrews shot which was palmed out by Sergei Parieko to the onrushing Keane on 71 mins.

Estonia then self-imploded when Piiroja was also sent off for a deliberate handball to reduce the home team to nine men.

To compound their miserable night, sub Steven Hunt was felled in the box to give Ireland a penalty and Captain, Robbie Keane scored his second on the night, his 53rd in 113 games,  to make it 4-0 to Ireland in the 88th minute.
Sub Simon Cox even managed a shot on goal in injury-time, the game ended with Ireland victorious and Estonia demoralised.

Dreamland for Trap's team and Ireland as we are surely almost through to Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine next Summer.

Man of the Match: Robbie Keane

Rep of Ireland: Given, Kelly, St. Ledger, Dunne, Ward, Duff,

Whelan, Andrews, McGeady, Keane, Walters.
Subs: Westwood, Hunt, Keogh, Cox, Fahey, McShane, O'Dea.

Estonia: Pareiko, Jaager, Stepanov, Piiroja, Klavan, Dmitrijev, Vassiljev, Vunk, Kruglov, Kink, Ahjupera.

Subs: Londak, Rahn, Voskoboinikov, Lindpere, Purje, Saag, Teniste.

Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)

TRAP NAMES MOST OF HIS TEAM IN ESTONIA

Ireland Manager, Giovanni Trapattoni has unusually named a ten-man team for the first-leg play-offs with Estonia.

With Kevin Doyle suspended and Shane Long injured, the major concern was who would play upfront.

Thankfully, Captain Robbie Keane has returned to form from injury with LA Galaxy to lead the side, the only question remains, who will start alongside him upfront.

Its a straight fight between West Brom's Simon Cox and Stoke's Jon Walters.

Both forwards are worth a starting place upfront but only one of them will get their name on the teamsheet.

Cox was Man of the Match against Armenia last month but it appears that Stoke's leading man Jonathon Walters is favourite with El Trapp due to his holding-up of the ball from defence to attack, his energy and physicality and prowess in front of goal, leading everyone to believe that he will today be handed a starting role against Estonia in Talinn at 7:45pm.

Trapattoni also suggested that Robbie Keane maybe withdrawn in the second-half due to his lack of match-sharpness in favour of Cox.

You have to say one thing about this Ireland Manager, he has provided options for this team in almost every position and the fact that we are favourites to win this play-off speaks volumns for the players & the Manager.