Martins tears apart injury-depleted Ireland

Nigeria 3 Republic of Ireland

Brian Kerr, the Republic of Ireland coach, believes it might take up to three years before his side reap the benefits of playing in the Unity Cup.

A fleet and resourceful Nigeria beat Ireland 3-0 on Saturday in the first of three international friendlies at Charlton Athletic's ground, with the 21-year-old Bartholomew Ogbeche, on loan from Paris St Germain to the Corsican club Bastia, scoring a brace. He put Nigeria ahead in the 36th minute with a low shot from just inside the penalty area that ricocheted in off the left-hand post.

Internazionale's Obafemi Martins doubled Nigeria's lead in the 50th minute, running from midfield against a retreating Irish defence to fire low across goal. The Irish goalkeeper, Nicky Colgan, was beaten in the 69th minute by Martins, who laid the ball across to Ogbeche to complete Ireland's defeat.

Fans were left pondering the merits of the event, especially as it came less than 48 hours after the 1-0 win over Romania at Lansdowne Road. However, Kerr is happy to give some of the players he hopes will be the future of Irish international football a chance to impress during this tournament in south London.

"The benefit is that it gives players the chance to play, and it might be in a year's time, or even two or three years, before we get the benefit of it," Kerr said. "It gives you the opportunity to have a look at different players in international football against a different style of football than is usual for European international teams.

"There is value in that, but you would like to be fielding your best team. I am not looking for excuses but I would give the players the excuse that they gave so much on Thursday night.

"We are missing five defenders; [Stephen] Carr, [Gary] Breen, [Richard] Dunne, [John] O'Shea, [Ian] Harte. The same in midfield: [Graham] Kavanagh, [Colin] Healy, [Damien] Duff, [Jason] McAteer, [Kevin] Kilbane. If we'd had half of them the balance would be better. We have what we have and we'll make the best of it.

"It has meant we have had to give players a go. We have to find out if they are going to be good enough down the road when the big stuff starts."

The new players who have been given a chance by Kerr this week include the Queens Park Rangers winger Martin Rowlands and Stoke defender Clive Clarke. They and others will get a further opportunity in Ireland's second match of the tournament against Jamaica on Wednesday night, as Kerr promised that all players in the squad would figure.

That will mean a second cap, but first start, for the Sheffield United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny and debuts for Coventry's Michael Doyle, Nottingham Forest's John Thompson and the highly-rated Celtic youngster Aidan McGeady.

"I'd be hoping to use the players who haven't had a go yet," confirmed Kerr. "It will be an inexperienced team again but we've got a few days' break now so it will be a bit easier to manage that."

Goals: Ogbeche (36) 1-0; Martins (50) 2-0; Ogbeche (69) 3-0.

NIGERIA: Rotimi, Olofinjana (Obiefule, 86), Dnakhari, Utaka, Obodo, Martins (Adamu, 84), Lawal, Olosinjuh, Abbey (Showumni, 89), Ogbeche (Baita, 72), Ekwueme. Substitutes not used: Bankole, Akuwegbu.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Colgan, Finnan, Cunningham, Doherty, Maybury (Clarke, 46), Miller (Rowlands, 46), Holland (Douglas, 67), Kinsella, McPhail, Robbie Keane (Barrett, 84), Lee. Substitutes not used: A Quinn, O'Brien, Kenny, Thompson, A Reid, Given, Morrison, Doyle, McGeady.

Referee: Andy D'Urso (England).

Attendance: 7,438.