A header from Robbie Keane six minutes from time helped maintain Irelands hopes of reaching South Africa. The win means Giovanni Trapatonnis men stay in second place in group eight, one point behind irelands next oppostition Italy, although the current World Champions have a game in hand. The irish now have two games to go and an added bonus is that they are both to be played at Croke park. The first of these two vital fixtures is against league leaders Italy on the 10th of October, this match could po sibly Michael Thomas Hoodies Sweatshirts be the decider in who tops the group when all of the games have been played.Knowing that fellow groupfrontrunners Bulgaria and Italy won earlier on Saturday, the pre sure was on the boys in green to put a result out of the bag and the start could not have been better as Wolves Striker Kevin Doyle finished from a loose ball in a scrappy penalty area with just 5 minutes on the clock. Ireland were used to scoring early against Cyprus as they got an early goal which turned out to be the winner in the reverse fixture last october. Ireland were trying to build on this lead by Daniel Sorensen Jersey using steady build up play but the home side could have been level just two minutes later if it was not for Manchester City Keeper Shay Given as a Efstathios Aloneftis cro s was met by the head of Giannakis Okkas only for his effort to be clawed away by Given. Although Aloneftis was kept quiet By John Oshea for the majority of the first half when he found time and space he was taking to game to the Cyprus backline. The Home team were beginning to take the game to the Irish and the equliser arrived on the half hour mark, After Giannakis Okkas was di spo sed in the area by Richard Dunne and Avraams shot was blocked, the ball fell to Elia where he was on hand to put the ball into the net Rickey Jackson Jersey and get Cyprus back in the game. Irelands respone was quick and they began to cause the home side problems again, If only Keith Andrews Shot was a yard to the right, The boys in green may have been a goal infront once more. This effort was followed up by a header from Kevin Kilbane which was just a fraction over the bar. Giovanni Trappatoni and his side left the pitch knowing that they were much in the fight in this match and they could easily come away with three points. Just Andrus Peat Jersey as they did in the first half, Ireland started strongly, and could easily have been infront 5 minutes after the restart. Good work by Damien Duff on the left hand side gave Stephan Hunt a chance for a header, only to see his effort hit the side netting, and then a knock back from Robbie Keane set Stoke City Midfielder Glenn Whelan up perfectly for a brilliant half-volley which forced Avgousti into a top-cla s Wil Lutz Jersey save.Richard Dunne will have been thanking the referee as the anxious Irish Supporters saw him and Cyprus Striker Oka s race into the Irish box shoulder to shoulder which ended in Okkas hitting the floor. Although Austrian Referee Thomas Einwaller was not impre sed and game was played on. The game went a bit dull after the hour mark with only one clear chance for Oshea in which he headed over the bar. Although this was broken as talisman Robbie Keane beat Goalkeeper Avgousti to Damien Duffs cro s to head Ireland into the lead and send the travelling fans into raptures.