Keane gave the visitors a 12th minute advantage, then proceeded to cause Finland all manner of problems.

Although the Leeds man could not add to his own tally, Colin Healy and Graham Barrett both did late on, each collecting their first international goals, the latter just seven minutes after being introduced for his debut.

McCarthy made five chances at the interval, Butler and Duff among those withdrawn.

Kelly did well to prevent Kolkka sprinting away down the left before Gary Doherty slid in to deny Johansson a shooting chance.

In contrast to Ireland’s swingeing changes, Finland made only one, Hyypia replaced by Toni Kuvasto.

The new centre-half quickly made his presence felt, rising to meet Kolkka’s cross but producing a downward header of such power it bounced over the bar.

Ilola then nodded over from Nurmela’s cross as Finland hunted a leveller.

Johansson went off just before the hour mark, sustaining a cut to the head after one aerial challenge.

Keane looked likely to grab his second when Colin Healy found him with a perfect cut-back after driving into the penalty area, but the striker’s side-footed shot was saved by Jaaskelainen.

Keane was a man on a mission and Jaaskelainen did well to get in the way of the Leeds man’s low drive after he had shrugged off Aki Riihilahti.

Litmanen was still a source of danger at the other end and after creating space for himself on the edge of the area, curled another shot just wide with Kiely beaten.

His next shot clipped the top of the bar, although this time Kiely was in control of the situation.

This time, Ireland immediately went to the other end and doubled their lead.

Stephen McPhail looped a long ball to the far post which Rory Delap nodded back. Briefly it looked as though Breen would deny Healy a scoring chance, but the West Ham defender quickly got out of the way allowing the Celtic midfielder to smash home his first international goal.

There was still more to come from the visitors, Healy taking Kilbane’s cross-field pass in his stride, scampering across the penalty area and setting up Arsenal youngster Graham Barrett, who stroked home the third just seven minutes after being introduced for his debut.