Stoke star Whelan helps Irish to victory
Published Date:
06 September 2008
Glenn Whelan's rise to prominence gathered pace in Germany as his first senior international goal helped get the Republic of Ireland's World Cup qualifying campaign off to the perfect start.
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 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.
Georgia rallied briefly and should have been back on terms through Alexander Iashvili.
But after Robbie Keane had hit the post, Whelan made sure, despite Levan Kenia's injury-time strike, in front of a crowd of just 4,500 in Mainz to send his side into their trip to Montenegro on Wednesday in high spirits.
The full article contains 155 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
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Last Updated:
06 September 2008 8:29 PM
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Source:
n/a
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Location:
Northampton
