Football Corner

Ireland edged past Cyprus in a game of few chances to keep their World Cup qualification hopes alive. The Irish team had a 10,000 travilling support to cheer them on in Cyprus and the team rewarded the travilling fans when young Sunderland striker Stephen Elliot finished well past the Cyprus keeper. But Cyprus were nearly level just five minutes later when they were awarded a penalty when Irish defender Richard Dunne took down Ioannis Okkas but the same player was denied giving his side an equaliser when Shay Given made a tremendous save from the penalty. It wasn't Given's first great save of the night as he had denied Okkas a minute earlier after Kenny Cunningham had got in a tangle in his own penalty area. Cyprus were in control of most of the procedings but Ireland managed to hold out and the victory means they need to win on Wednesday at home to Switzerland to reach the play-offs.

Great result for Ireland because they were in desperate need of the win to keep their World Cup qualification hopes alive. Great to see young Elliot scoring and I believe that he will become one of Ireland's great strikers in the future. Shay Given was quite rightly awarded man of the match because without him Ireland certainly would not of been coming home with three points.