In a dire encounter in miserable drizzly June weather, the Republic of Ireland, managed to secure all three points and move to the top of  of World Cup Qualifying Group Four, but the win over the Faroe Islands was anything but pretty.

With the home side happy to defend on a poor bumpy pitch it was always going to be difficult for Ireland to break them down, especially as the preeure was on the Irish with anything less than three points being considered a failure.

Roy Keane came in for Holland and replaced the injured Robbie Keane .   Elliott was a revelation with his willingness to run and work for the team, he seemed keen and with with a natural goalscorers ability he was the one who posed the threat upfront rather tha the rather lackluster Morrison.  He was named man of the match and caused endless problems for the Faroes’ defence as he hit the crossbar, forced a fine save from Mikkelsen and earned the penalty that resulted in a goal.   And reinforced the belief that he should have replaced Robbie when he was injured against Israel.

After seven minutes Morrisson had the ball in the back of the net after some fine Irish interchange. O’Shea had burst forward from centre half, played a one-two with  Reid and then played the ball wide to Duff whose low cross was turned in by the unmarked Morrison. The assistant referee waved for offside and Keane was then booked for dissent.

Harte then had a free kick saved by Jakup Mikkelsen at the second attempt after 17 minutes, but the home side fought back with Flotum once again firing wide before Lakjuni shot inches wide with Shay Given beaten after 25 minutes.

Given was forced to concede a corner ten minutes later after an Olsen cross from the left caused some confusion between the 'keeper and Cunningham with Given managing to put the ball behind at the last second with   Jorgensen just about to pounce.

But it was Ireland who finished the stronger with Elliott hitting the top of the bar in front of an open goal when Mikkelsen dropped Reid's shot just before half time.

Six minutes after the restart Elliott chased down an O’Shea through-ball and was brought down Mikkelsen after he had clipped the ball past him.   Harte placed the resultant penalty in the  top right corner of the net for his eleventh international goal.

Seven minutes later, Kilbane's poor side foot effort was deflected into the goal by Johannesen.

And a third could have arrived two minutes later when a fine individual run by Elliott ended with Mikkelsen making a fine save with Morrison failing to net with the rebound.

Faroe Islands - Mikkelsen, Olsen, Danielsen, Hansen,Jacobsen, Benjaminsen, Johnsson, Jorgensen, Flotum (Jacobsen, 59 mins), Johannesen, Lakjuni.

Republic of Ireland - Given, Carr, Cunningham, O'Shea, Harte, Reid, Keane, Kilbane, Duff, Morrison (Doherty, 78 mins), Elliott.

Referee: A Genov (Bulgaria).