Ireland get back on track with Faroes win

The Republic of Ireland rebounded from last Friday's record 6-1 home defeat by Germany by claiming a morale-boosting 4-1 win over the Faroe Islands to get their FIFA World Cup qualification bid back on track.

The pressure eased on coach Giovanni Trapattoni with the Group C victory in Torshavn where Marc Wilson, Jonathan Walters and Darren O'Dea all scored, with Ireland's other goal coming when Pól Jóhannus Justinussen put the ball into his own net.

"We had a good reaction after the Germany game and I am happy for the young players. All of the team played well but in particular James McCarthy and Marc Wilson," Trapattoni said.

Ireland had dominated the first half without managing to find a way past home goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen, but just a minute into the second half left-back Wilson, on his first competitive international start, skipped past two defenders and his deflected shot flew beyond Nielsen.

It was 2-0 after 53 minutes as Walters netted his second international goal, heading in a cross by Wilson, his Stoke City FC team-mate. The home side were given hope when substitute Arnbjørn Hansen beat goalkeeper Keiren Westwood on 68 minutes but five minutes later Ireland went 3-1 in front as Justinussen deflected a Walters centre past his own keeper.

O'Dea added gloss to the win with his first international goal, a late header from Aiden McGeady's delivery, by when Lars Olsen's men were already resigned to their third straight defeat in the group.