Ireland's Darron Gibson

Robbie keane

Ireland extended their unbeaten run to eight matches but most importantly geared up for the resumption of their EURO qualifiers in positive fashion.

Steve Staunton’s side demonstrated a prowess for catching their opposition on the counter-attack and killing them off with sublime accuracy. 

Ireland record goal-scorer Robbie Keane brought his tally to 31 having struck twice in the first half of tonight’s friendly.

Reading striker Shane Long further illustrated what he can contribute at International level with another two-goal salvo in the second half, hot on the back of him opening his account in Ireland’s last outing against Bolivia in May.

Ireland have a tough double-qualifier fast approaching away from home against Slovakia on September 8th and the Czech Republic four days later. If the manager was tonight seeking a dry-run for those games, he would have been pleased with what he witnessed at the Parken Stadium.

Stephen Carr and Andy Reid both returned from long absences out of the Irish set-up due to injuries and looked accomplished on their comebacks.

Carr settled into the game and played the full match while Reid did enough in the 45 minutes he played to suggest his vision and creativity can be vital assets to the Irish cause.

Darron Gibson replaced Reid at the break for his debut cap and didn’t look out of place as he bossed the central-midfield area with a maturity beyond his 19 years.

Andrew Keogh also impressed as a half-time substitute, operating mainly on the right-flank and getting into scoring positions with a great deal of regularity.

The first chance of the contest was presented to the Irish with six minutes elapsed. Aiden McGeady's marauding dribble was cut short when he was dragged down outside of the box but from the resulting free-kick, Andy Reid's clipped shot rebounded back off the defensive wall.

Ireland were lucky not to concede on 14 minutes when Dennis Rommendahl skipped past Steve Finnan down the right channel before crossing to Nicklas Bendtner whose header from eight yards struck the underside of the crossbar and was cleared by John O'Shea.

The opening goal arrived after 29 minutes following a sweeping breakaway movement that began in Ireland's half when Aiden McGeady strode forward towards the half-way line.

He found Andy Reid with a pass who, in turn, delivered an incisive ball to Robbie Keane sprinting through the middle.

The Irish skipper homed in on goal and opted for the chip, rather than a drive, which deceived Denmark goalkeeper Jesper Christiansen and floated into the corner of the net from the edge of the box.

Reid and McGeady combined again to set up Keane's second goal five minutes before half-time.

The inventive Reid spread the play with an exquisite deep pass to the Celtic winger on the right flank and he swiftly curled in a near-post cross where Keane bravely hurled himself at the ball.

Christiansen attempted to punch the ball clear but only succeeded in rebounding it off the Irish striker's back and into the net.

Manager Stephen Staunton made three changes at half-time and two of those entrants created an impact nine minutes in.

Darron Gibson found space from a McGeady lay-off and fired in a stinging shot from 25-yards that Christiansen could only palm down and there was Shane Long rushing in to stroke home the rebound home with ease.

McGeady had the hosts run ragged and his flair undid the Danes again after 66 minutes as he set up Long for his second and Ireland’s fourth goal.

The provider of the goal coaxed a defender into switching off on the edge of the penalty area from where he slipped a pass into the path of Long, who shrugged off his marker, and buried a low shot past a static Christiansen.

Denmark will feel hard done by for not breaching the goal of Wayne Henderson. They did conjure up a few openings when the game was scoreless but they couldn’t match the clinical nature of Ireland’s finishing.

Arsenal starlet Bentner had an attempt come back off the woodwork on a second occasion six minutes from the end. Richard Dunne was left retreating as the striker popped up in the box yet his effort shuck the frame of the goal.

Afterwards, Robbie Keane explained how delighted he was with the result and display, especially with it being produced on their travels.

“We’ve got a few decent results at home but that’s certainly been our best away performance . We showed confidence on the ball - kept it really, really well  - and punished them with the goals. Overall, we’re very pleased.

“The goals from Shane (Long) were quality and for me, as a striker, it’s always nice to score goals.

“The win was the most important thing because it gets the confidence up for the two qualifying games ahead.

“Denmark are a decent side and gave us a good test but we showed today, with a lot of the young lads in there, what a good side we can be.”