Damien Duff tormented the Georgia defence in the first half

Georgia 1-2 Republic of Ireland

Gary Doherty's winner six minutes from time earned the Republic of Ireland a victory which got their Euro 2004 qualification hopes back on track.

After Damien Duff's first half goal had put the Irish in control, the Georgians took over in the third quarter to level the contest.

However, the Irish regrouped in the closing stages and Doherty's goal helped undo some of the damage of the opening defeats against Russia and Switzerland.

The Georgians, with Georgi Kinkladze prominent, showed some nice touches early on but prompted by Damian Duff the Irish carved out the first chances.

Firstly a delightful backheel by the Blackburn star in the 12th minute put a charging Kevin Kilbane in space but Georgian goalkeeper Georgi Lomaia held the Sunderland winger's shot.

Lomaia made an even better save seconds later to tip a Duff piledriver over the bar.

However, Kilbane and Duff combined to ever greater effect in the 18th minute with the Blackburn man putting the Irish ahead from close range.

Kilbane's deep cross found Lee Carsley in a great position and although Lomaia brilliantly stopped the Everton man's shot, Duff stabbed home the rebound.

The Irish had strong penalty claims turned down in the 26th minute when Gary Doherty appeared to be tripped in the box by Georgi Shashiashvili.

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A minute later, some slack defence gave Doherty a chance but his flicked effort was blocked by the goalkeeper.

Nearing half-time the Georgians started to look more threatening and Alexandre Iashvili was given too much space by the Irish defence but he pushed his shot well wide.

The Irish should have extended their lead a minute after half-time after a dreadful backpass but Carsley's pointblank effort was brilliantly tipped over by Lomaia.

The Georgians had more possession in the opening stages of the second half without seriously threatening the Irish.

However, Mark Kinsella had to make a vital block in the 57th minute to deny a pointblank effort from Iashvili.

The Georgians then won a free-kick on the edge of the Irish box with O'Shea fouling speedy substitute Demetradze.

As the teams waited for the free-kick, the Irish became incensed after a knife had been thrown from the crowd towards Kevin Kilbane.

Vital Breen tackle

With the Irish appearing to lose concentration, Levan Kobiashvili's shot from near the angle of the penalty box flew over the defensive wall and through Given's grasp into the roof of the net.

The goal boosted the Georgians and the Irish started to give the ball away carelessly.

Goal-scorer Kobiashvili had a chance in the 71st minute after outfoxing John O'Shea but from a great position the Georgian fired his shot well wide.

At the other end of the field, Duff squandered a glorious chance to restore the Irish lead but his pointblank header was straight at Lomaia.

In the final 15 minutes, the Georgians seemed to go into defensive mode and the Irish were able to force a number of corners.

The Irish sensed their chance to regain the initiative and so it proved in the 84th minute with Gary Doherty heading his third international goal with the Georgian defence nowhere.

The Georgians threatened in the closing moments and it took a superb Gary Breen tackle to avert the danger on one occasion but the Irish held on for the victory.

Georgia: Lomaia, Khizaneishvili, Shashiashvili, Amisulashvili, Jamarauli, Nemsadze, Kobiaschwili, Tskitischvili, Kinkladze, Ketsbaia, Iashvili. Subs: Gvaramadze, Kvirkvelia, Kemoklidze, Demetradze, Didava, Ashvetiya, Rekhviashvili.