Republic of Ireland 4
Oman 0
Darren Cleary at the Aviva Stadium
Not many fairytales involve the merciless hammering of Arab minnows, this one does. Robbie Keane ended his career with a goal in a comfortable 4-0 win at Lansdowne Road.
Robbie Brady’s fine free kick opened the scoring, Keane then hit the back before Jon Walters bagged a brace
The skipper signed off in style when he netted a volley on 30 minutes. It was vintage Keane, Jon Walters flicked it into the path of the striker, his first touch lifted it over the head of the defender and his second was a volley that rattled the net.
On the night that Keane called it a day he brought his trade mark celebration out of retirement, the cartwheel somersault, removed from his arsenal in his advancing years returned much to the delight of the Irish fans.
They filled the game with chants of ‘Keano’ often. The strike was his 68th goal for his country and saw him joins the German legend Gerd Muller on the all time scorer’s list.
Arguably Ireland’s greatest player, Robbie’s record means he stands among the pantheon of all time greats in the game.
Henry, Ibrahimovic, Messi, the Ronaldo’s of Brazil and Portugal, the one similarity between them all.
They’ve come nowhere near Keane’s number of goals for his country - 68 goals in 146 appearances.
Robbie’s volley in many ways was the goal of the evening, but for quality Robbie Brady’s free kick was a peach.
Everyone at Lansdowne Road was expecting a whipped cross to the back-post where Keane was lurking.
Brady instead lashed it into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Keane came close in the last few minutes, the ball fell kindly for him in the box but the defender nicked it off his toe.
Jon Walters then hit the post, Keane was there for the tap in but Rushaidi dived in it to deny the Tallaght man.
Keane’s farewell was a star studded event with some of the greats of football past and present delivering video messages on the screen.
Pele, Brian O’Driscoll, Steven Gerrard and Bono just some of the people paying tribute to Robbie on the night of his curtain call.
The party was almost spoiled by the visitors in the first 2 minutes after a corner found Abdelaziz Humaid Mubarak Al Muqbali unmarked at the back post.
It was to be Keane's night though, it ended much like it begun, with a goal. The Dubliner scored against Malta on his debut in 1998. He finished with a goal on his final appearance.
The curtain call came in the 57th minute when Wes Hoolahan replaced the talismanic Tallaght man, Keane took his time leaving the pitch as he soaked in the atmosphere and the adulation for the final time.
It is the end of an era, but one that brought joy, pride and hope to so many - Robbie Keane leaves a legend.
Keane on the scoresheet as Ireland win, how strange it is to type those words for the last time.
He spoke to 98FM's Jamie Moore after the game.
Listen by clicking play on the link below.
