Whelan on target in Republic win

The 24-year-old Stoke midfielder, winning just his fourth cap after being thrust into the limelight by new coach Giovanni Trapattoni, fired a 70th-minute effort past bungling Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Loria to seal a vital 2-1 victory.

Ireland had taken a 13th-minute lead when Kevin Doyle headed home an Aiden McGeady cross, and could have been out of sight half-time. Levan Kenia pulled a goal back for Georgia in injury time, but it proved to be no more than a consolation.

For 30 minutes, Ireland had things all their own way to the extent that goalkeeper Shay Given was a virtual spectator.

Most of the action came at the other end as Doyle marked his 20th senior cap with the opening goal 13 minutes into the campaign.

It came from the Republic's first cohesive attack, Steven Reid feeding the ball out to Robbie Keane on the left, the skipper in turn setting up McGeady to cross for the Reading striker to head past the flat-footed Giorgi Loria.

Dangerman Alexander Iashvili flashed two shots well wide of the target, but with eight minutes of the half remaining, he was presented with the most gilt-edged of opportunities.

Iashvili was left unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box as the Republic lined up to defend a Levan Kenia corner, but perhaps surprised at the time and space he had been given, he headed over the bar.

But Georgia were riding their luck and only just survived a self-inflicted wound with 57 minutes gone. Keane could not believe his luck as he ran on to a desperately underhit back-pass to Loria and round the keeper and his shot from a tight angle.

However, Ireland's nerves were settled with 20 minutes remaining when Whelan capped off an expansive passing move by sending in a dipping shot which Loria could only help the ball into his own net. Kenia was rewarded for a fine individual display with an injury-time consolation strike, but it was not enough to deny the Irish a win.