Ireland determined to end long wait

It has been eight years since the Republic of Ireland last reached a major tournament. However, two of their stalwarts during that period, Shay Given and Richard Dunne, tell UEFA.com that recent disappointments will be spurring them on when their UEFA EURO 2012 qualification campaign gets under way in Armenia on Friday. The Irish did come close to ending that absence when they were narrowly beaten in extra time by France in the 2010 FIFA World Cup play-offs last November, and defender Dunne is convinced the pain of that experience could still have a positive outcome.