Ireland 1 Estonia 1: Trapattoni’s side earn place in Euro 2012 finals

The Estonia midfielder blasted a 30-yard drive past goalkeeper Shay Given 12 minutes after the break to cancel out Stephen Ward’s first-half strike and restore some of his team’s battered pride.

However, the 4-0 lead Giovanni Trapattoni’s men took into the second leg of their play-off meant they were already all but assured of their trip to Poland and Ukraine before kick-off.

There were tears in Paris two years ago, but last night in Dublin there was unbridled joy for a crowd of 51,151 as a 10-year wait for a major tournament finals, and 24 for a return to the European stage, came to a joyous end.

Damien Duff admitted it was “about time” the Irish booked their place in the finals.

“It’s an amazing feeling – it’s probably even better than (reaching the World Cup in) 2002 because time is running out for a few of us, so I suppose you appreciate it more now,” Fulham midfielder Duff said.

“It’s brilliant and it’s about time – 25 years since we’ve been to the Euros and 10 since we got to a major tournament.”

The second leg itself could have been effectively over within the first six minutes as the Republic ripped into a reshuffled Estonian pack.

But ironically, captain Robbie Keane, the man whose goals have been the platform for much of what his team has achieved over the last decade, passed up two glorious opportunities to add to his tally of 53.

There were five minutes gone when strike partner Kevin Doyle flicked on Given’s clearance for the LA Galaxy man to ghost past central defender Taavi Rahn.

However, goalkeeper Pavel Londak, deputising for the suspended Sergei Pareiko, blocked his effort at close range.

Londak found himself staring down the barrel once again seconds later when he could only parry Duff’s snapshot from Stephen Hunt’s free-kick to Keane five yards out.

The striker shot instantly and instinctively, but uncharacteristically sent the ball wide of the near post to his own astonishment.

The visitors succumbed 14 minutes before the break after central defender Ragnar Klavan had needlessly conceded a corner.

Doyle got his head to Duff’s left-wing corner and the goalkeeper could only push the ball out to full-back Ward, who thumped it past him and into the back of the net.

Trapattoni celebrated on the sidelines as the party in the stands went into full swing with qualification now assured.

Given made his first save three minutes later when he got down to claim Vladimir Voskoboinikov’s skidding drive, but his evening was passing largely without incident. The Estonians returned in determined mood and once again took the game to Ireland, although it was Ward who came closest to altering the scoreline when he forced Londak to save after cutting inside on to his right-foot from Glenn Whelan’s pass.

The visitors equalised as Vassiljev picked the ball up inside the Ireland half and, having made ground, smashed a 30-yard missile towards goal.

The ball dipped and swerved and Given managed to get a hand to it, but could not keep it out.

Richard Dunne might have restored the home side’s lead when he met Keith Andrews’s clipped pass, but he headed straight at a grateful Londak.

Czech Republic joined Ireland in the finals after negotiating a potentially tricky night in Montenegro, Petr Jiracek’s 81st minute goal enough to give the Czechs a 1-0 win on the night and 3-0 on aggregate.

The home side will rue a pair of first-half misses from Mirko Vucinic, before Jiracek’s winner ended the tie.

Croatia played out a goalless draw against Turkey in Zagreb which earned Slaven Bilic’s men a 3-0 aggregate victory following their heroics in Istanbul on Friday night.

Former Sheffield United striker Colin Kazim-Richards hit a post for Turkey but Croatia looked most likely to break the deadlock with Ivan Rakitic forcing a superb save out of Turkey’s Sinan Bolat.