Alex Bruce skippered a Republic of Ireland fringe XI to a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest in Dublin this evening. The central defender played the full 90 minutes, while fellow Blue Owen Garvan came on as a 69th minute substitute.

Hull's Caleb Folan and Wolves striker Andy Keogh scored the Irish goals.

Garvan is also in the U21 squad for a friendly in Lithuania next Tuesday. If he plays, he will win his seventh U21 cap.

Bruce, who has one full cap, is also in the senior Irish squad for their World Cup qualifier with Cyprus at Croke Park, Dublin next Wednesday.

Republic of Ireland: Joe Murphy (Scunthorpe United), Kevin Foley (Wolves), Alex Bruce (Ipswich Town), Darren O'Dea (Celtic), Stephen Ward (Wolves); Andy Keogh (Wolves), Darron Gibson (Manchester United), Keith Andrews (Blackburn Rovers), Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City); Anthony Stokes (Sunderland), Caleb Folan (Hull City). Substitutions: Shane Long (Reading) for Folan, Keith Treacy (Blackburn Rovers) for Hoolahan and Kieran Westwood (Coventry City) for Murphy (all half-time), Martin Rowlands (QPR) for Andrews and Darren Potter (Wolves) for Gibson (55), Eddie Nolan (Blackburn Rovers) for O'Dea (59), Sean Scannell (Crystal Palace) for Keogh (63), Owen Garvan (Ipswich Town) for Ward (69).

Photo: Action Images

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