Faroe Islands 0 Republic of Ireland 2

The Republic of Ireland gained the victory they desperately craved to ease their fraying World Cup qualifying nerves, thanks to a penalty and a deflected shot.

Manager Brian Kerr's side had to wait until the 51st minute to make the breakthrough, with left-back Ian Harte scoring with his first spot-kick since he missed against Spain in the second round of the finals three years ago.

Eight minutes later and the win which sends Ireland into the summer break on top of Group Four was secured when Faroes captain Oli Johannesen steering Kevin Kilbane's first goal for Ireland for almost two years beyond goalkeeper Jakup Mikkelsen.

The opening 45 minutes of this game, though, were about as uncomfortable as Ireland have endured throughout a campaign which has raised hopes and broken hearts in almost equal measure.

Ahead of this match, skipper Kenny Cunningham was asked if he would have settled for an ugly 1-0 victory because the points were more important than the performance.

Birmingham centre-back Cunningham said no, believing it was Ireland's responsibility to play brave football and impose themselves on their less-than-illustrious opponents.

As the fog enveloped the world's smallest capital over the course of the day, forcing the cancellation of a number of flights carrying Ireland fans into the Faroes, and as a swirling rain and a bumpy pitch added to the miserable conditions, Cunningham would surely have changed his mind.

By the end of the first half, it is likely Cunningham would have given anything to get out of the Faroes with all three points as the Premiership status of so many of Kerr's side counted for nothing on this far-flung outpost of European football.

Watched by one of the smallest-ever recent travelling supports for the boys in green, with around 300 braving the elements, early cheers died in their throats when a persistent offside flag was crucially raised for the third time in the opening eight minutes.

John O'Shea, driving forward from his centre-back role due to Andy O'Brien's suspension, linked up with Damien Duff who in turn played in Clinton Morrison for a sidefoot tap-in from inside the six-yard box, but to no avail.

Roy Keane, along with Stephen Carr returning to the side after serving a suspension on Saturday, mouthed off at Bulgarian referee Anton Guenov and was immediately cautioned for dissent.

Harte followed up in the 17th minute with a free-kick from an almost identical position from which he scored the opener against Israel on Saturday, leading to an uneasy save for goalkeeper Mikkelsen as he eventually held on to the ball at the second time of asking.

But the Faroes, growing in confidence, almost stunned their visitors midway through the half as a breakaway move culminated in Julian Johnsson playing Hedin Lakjuni in behind a stretched Carr.

But after unleashing a first-time left-foot drive that had advancing goalkeeper Shay Given beaten, his angled shot agonisingly shaved the left-hand post.

In the 29th minute, Andrew Flotum found a gap through the legs of Carr with a left-foot shot from the edge of the area that this time was more comfortably wide for Given.

Butu when Flotum then drove a speculative ball into the area and through a crowd of players soon after that an unsighted Given needed to push round the post, it was looking like it was going to be another of those games.

More so in the 40th minute when Ireland should have taken the lead as Andy Reid's low 18-yard curler was superbly saved by Mikkelsen, with the rebound falling into the path of Stephen Elliott, starting his first competitive game.

The Sunderland striker - a major gamble by Kerr in coming in for Robbie Keane, who was sidelined with a shoulder injury - clipped the top of the crossbar with a sidefoot shot from 12 yards.

But it was Elliott's energy which eventually helped ease the tension shortly after the break, winning a ball and earning a penalty Harte converted for his second goal in five days upon his return from the international wilderness.

Then came the degree of comfort which helped Ireland play with a greater freedom in the closing half hour as Everton midfielder Kilbane scored his fifth goal for his country - courtesy of the deflection.

Elliott and Morrison then tested Mikkelsen in the following minutes, while Given was forced to tip a Lakjuni drive onto the post before the final whistle.

I couldnt believe how bad we were in the first half. We couldnt even put 2 passes together. 2nd half we were better and deserved to win but 2-0 against the Faroe Islands doesnt really make me feel too happy. 3 points is all we needed and were top over the Summer so its not too bad