Euro 2020 qualifiers: Hourihane's first international goal serves up Republic win
Conor Hourihane curled in his delightful free-kick on 36 minutes
Conor Hourihane's superb first-half free-kick gave the Republic of Ireland a morale-boosting 1-0 win over Georgia in the Euro 2020 qualifier in Dublin.
Hourihane's goal came straight after a delay as Irish fans threw tennis balls on to the pitch in protest at John Delaney remaining in the FAI hierarchy.
Keeper Darren Randolph denied Valeriane Gvilia before half-time and Jaba Kankava hit the Irish woodwork late on.
But Mick McCarthy's men held on to move to the top of Group D.
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All the action as Republic beat Georgia
McCarthy says protest didn't affect his players
The Republic lead Switzerland by two points after the Swiss were pegged back to a 3-3 draw by Denmark in Basel having led 3-0.
After Saturday's uninspiring 1-0 win in Gibraltar, this was a much-improved Irish display as they started the game on the front foot and withstood some late Georgia pressure.
Hourihane goal proves game, set and match
Aston Villa midfielder Hourihane curled in his first international goal after impressive striker David McGoldrick had won a free-kick just outside the Georgian penalty area following a clever turn.
As play stopped for Guram Kashia's foul on the Sheffield United striker, for which the Georgian was booked, the anticipated fans' protest against Delaney materialised and it took two minutes before play resumed.
However, it was worth waiting for as Hourihane, winning only his eighth cap, curled in a superb strike into the right-hand corner of the net, even if there may have been question marks about the positioning of Georgia keeper Giorgi Loria.
The protest came in response to the FAI's decision to create a new role for Delaney, who stood down as the governing body's chief executive on Saturday, only to be immediately moved to a new position of executive vice-president. A short-term loan from Delaney to the FAI has prompted the Irish government to demand further information on the governing body's finances.
Mick McCarthy's big selection call was leaving out in-form Wolves wing-back Matt DohertyMcCarthy's changes vindicated
McCarthy, in his first home game since taking the Republic job for a second time, made two changes - and his decision to leave out the in-form Wolves wing-back Matt Doherty had been a big talking point before the game.
However, the manager's call was vindicated as captain Seamus Coleman linked up impressively with the recalled Robbie Brady and Jeff Hendrick down the Republic's right flank early on.
Doherty has been probably the Republic's form Premier League player this season but struggled to combine with Coleman in Gibraltar.
Aston Villa veteran Glenn Whelan was handed an 86th cap, after his apparent international retirement back in November, and went on to produce a steady display as the holding midfielder.
Hourihane's goal was typical of a fine display but probably the biggest plus for the home side was McGoldrick's fine forward display as he held the ball impressively and set up a couple of chances for the Irish.
After their struggles in Gibraltar, the Republic needed to start with a quick tempo to get the 40,317 crowd on side and they duly did so, Coleman almost providing an early chance for McGoldrick, before Hourihane was denied in the 11th minute by Loria.
Brady was pleading for a pass as Hourihane charged towards goal but the Villa man was probably entitled to go it alone as he ran into the penalty area unchallenged before Loria made a fine full-stretch save.
After Hourihane's goal, Randolph had to make a superb save to push away Gvilia's point-blank shot in first-half injury time as the Republic crucially remained ahead at the interval.
The hosts did have the ball in the Georgian net again on 58 minutes but Hendrick's close-range finish was correctly ruled out for offside.
Inevitable late pressure by a Georgia side already assured of a Euro 2020 play-off following their successful Nations League campaign arrived as Kankava rattled an upright in the closing minutes with Randolph for once beaten.
But the Irish held on for a success celebrated heartily by McCarthy and his backroom staff at the final whistle.
The stats that matter
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The Republic of Ireland are now unbeaten in each of their 10 matches with Georgia in all competitions (W9 D1).
The Republic have recorded four consecutive clean sheets for the first time since a run of eight games in 2011.
Hourihane is the first Republic player to score a direct free-kick goal since Robbie Brady against Oman in August 2016.
Mick McCarthy has won his first two competitive matches in charge of the Republic of Ireland in both stints as manager.
What's next?
The Republic's next qualifier sees them face Denmark away on 7 June before a home game with Gibraltar three days later.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
R. of Ireland
23Randolph
2Coleman
4Duffy
5Keogh
3Stevens
13Hendrick
6Whelan
17Hourihane
10BradySubstituted forO'Brienat 74'minutes
9McGoldrickSubstituted forDohertyat 82'minutes
11McClean
Substitutes
1Westwood
7Doherty
8Maguire
12Byrne
14O'Brien
15Egan
16Travers
18Collins
19Judge
20Cullen
21Long
22Arter
Georgia
1Loria
2KakabadzeSubstituted forOkriashviliat 85'minutes
5Kvirkvelia
4KashiaBooked at 33mins
3KhotcholavaSubstituted forKharabadzeat 65'minutes
6Kvekveskiri
14ArveladzeSubstituted forQazaishviliat 73'minutes
21Gvilia
7KankavaBooked at 14mins
9Kiteishvili
11Kvilitaia
Substitutes
8Qazaishvili
10Okriashvili
12Kvaskhvadze
13Kacharava
15Parunashvili
16Kharabadze
17Merebashvili
18Tchanturishvili
19Lobzhanidze
20Jigauri
22Navalovski
23Makaridze
Referee:
Serdar Gözübüyük
Match Stats
Home TeamR. of IrelandAway TeamGeorgia
Possession
Home49%
Away51%
Shots
Home14
Away13
Shots on Target
Home2
Away1
Corners
Home6
Away4
Fouls
Home7
Away11
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Republic of Ireland 1, Georgia 0.
Full TimePosted at 90'+4'
Second Half ends, Republic of Ireland 1, Georgia 0.
Posted at 90'+4'
Attempt missed. Valeri Qazaishvili (Georgia) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Nika Kvekveskiri.
Posted at 90'+4'
Attempt blocked. Valeri Qazaishvili (Georgia) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Otar Kiteishvili.
Posted at 90'+2'
Attempt missed. Glenn Whelan (Republic of Ireland) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Posted at 90'
Foul by Giorgi Kvilitaia (Georgia).
Posted at 90'
Richard Keogh (Republic of Ireland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 89'
Attempt missed. Jaba Kankava (Georgia) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
SubstitutionPosted at 85'
Substitution, Georgia. Tornike Okriashvili replaces Otar Kakabadze.
Posted at 85'
Jaba Kankava (Georgia) hits the right post with a right footed shot from outside the box. Assisted by Valeri Qazaishvili.
SubstitutionPosted at 82'
Substitution, Republic of Ireland. Matt Doherty replaces David McGoldrick.
Posted at 79'
Foul by Jeff Hendrick (Republic of Ireland).
Posted at 79'
Jaba Kankava (Georgia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 77'
Attempt blocked. David McGoldrick (Republic of Ireland) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jeff Hendrick.
Posted at 77'
Attempt blocked. James McClean (Republic of Ireland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Enda Stevens.
SubstitutionPosted at 74'
Substitution, Republic of Ireland. Aiden O'Brien replaces Robbie Brady.
Posted at 73'
Offside, Republic of Ireland. James McClean tries a through ball, but David McGoldrick is caught offside.
SubstitutionPosted at 73'
Substitution, Georgia. Valeri Qazaishvili replaces Vato Arveladze.
Posted at 71'
Attempt missed. David McGoldrick (Republic of Ireland) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is high and wide to the left. Assisted by James McClean following a fast break.
Posted at 69'
Attempt missed. Enda Stevens (Republic of Ireland) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the left.
Posted at 67'
Attempt missed. Otar Kiteishvili (Georgia) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left following a corner.
Posted at 67'
Corner, Georgia. Conceded by Darren Randolph.
Posted at 67'
Attempt missed. Otar Kiteishvili (Georgia) with an attempt from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Otar Kakabadze with a cross.
Posted at 66'
Attempt blocked. Jaba Kankava (Georgia) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Valeriane Gvilia.
SubstitutionPosted at 65'
Substitution, Georgia. Levan Kharabadze replaces Davit Khotcholava because of an injury.
Posted at 64'
Corner, Republic of Ireland. Conceded by Davit Khotcholava.
Posted at 62'
Corner, Republic of Ireland. Conceded by Otar Kakabadze.
Posted at 60'
Attempt missed. David McGoldrick (Republic of Ireland) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Jeff Hendrick following a fast break.
Posted at 60'
Attempt blocked. Valeriane Gvilia (Georgia) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jaba Kankava.
Posted at 58'
Foul by James McClean (Republic of Ireland).
Posted at 58'
Otar Kakabadze (Georgia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 57'
Offside, Republic of Ireland. Enda Stevens tries a through ball, but Jeff Hendrick is caught offside.
Posted at 55'
Foul by Conor Hourihane (Republic of Ireland).
Posted at 55'
Valeriane Gvilia (Georgia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 54'
Attempt missed. Valeriane Gvilia (Georgia) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Nika Kvekveskiri.
Posted at 51'
Foul by Robbie Brady (Republic of Ireland).
Posted at 51'
Otar Kakabadze (Georgia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 50'
James McClean (Republic of Ireland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 50'
Foul by Otar Kakabadze (Georgia).
Posted at 50'
Shane Duffy (Republic of Ireland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Source: bbc.com
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