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Ireland were beaten 3-0 by Australia in a friendly at Thomond Park, with Everton's Tim Cahill hitting a brace.

Giovanni Trapattoni was left with plenty to ponder ahead of his side's final three World Cup qualifiers, the next of which takes them to Cyprus on September 5.

Some sluggish defending allowed Cahill a brace before half-time as Ireland looked slow in the opening 45 minutes before a slightly-improved showing in the second period yielded no reward.

David Carney fired in a spectacular third in added time to add to Trapattoni and Ireland's woe.

Rugby is the resident sport at Thomond Park in Limerick, and it became apparent from the start that Ireland were set to be dominated in this first international football match at the ground in much the same fashion that they have been by Australia in the oval ball pursuit.

Just two minutes had elapsed when Ireland were exposed by Luke Wilkshire and Harry Kewell's overlapping link-up, and the former Liverpool winger forced a save from Shay Given when some defensive sloppiness gave away a free-kick within shooting range.

It took almost a quarter of an hour before Ireland first forayed forward when Aiden McGeady's cross was looped over the bar by the head of Robbie Keane. It was down the left side and through the Celtic man that Trapattoni's side's found its most promising moves.

The first real chance of the game went the way of the visitors, as Patrick Kisnorbo rose and met a corner. Given got down superbly and did well to hold on to the ball, which he saw late.

Moments later, McGeady fed Keane on the counter-attack and a moment of twinkle-toed mastery from the Tottenham man brought him face to face with Mark Schwarzer. The Fulham keeper came off better however with a superb save at close range.

With those two opportunities the game looked to have sparked into life, but Ireland's malaise returned with a vengeance.

After wasting a break in which Keane picked the wrong pass, Australia raced up the other end and Scott McDonald fed the ball into Cahill's path. A swift shift of feet allowed the Everton man to fire off a low left-footed shot which skimmed the turf before nestling in the bottom-left corner.

Kewell then headed just over from a free-kick as Ireland's defensive frailties were further exposed, before Cahill struck again in the space of just six minutes.

Rhys Williams was allowed to run in off the right flank and power off a shot which Given did well to parry, but amid a sluggish defence Cahill reacted quickest to poke the rebound in and claim his second goal of the game.

The scoreline was a fair reflection of the first half, but still made uncomfortable reading for Trapattoni.

Only two changes were made at the interval by the Italian however, as Stephen Hunt and Caleb Folan replaced Damien Duff and Kevin Doyle.

Hunt was the more noticeable of the two by far: Glenn Whelan's over-hit cross for Keane was cleverly backheeled by the captain, and as Hunt rushed on to the ball he fired wide.

Shortly after Keane made space for himself inside Australia's area before seeing a shot blocked, and he then pulled the ball back across the face of goal from the by-line but without support.

There was still something lacking from Ireland's efforts however, with respite coming when Keith Andrews let rip with a good shot that struck the post as full-time approached.

However, the lack of quality finishing was displayed again in the final minute when Sean St Ledger headed straight at Schwarzer from six yards to waste a great chance for a consolation.

To rub salt into Ireland's wounds, Carney hammered in a stunning third from 30 yards in the third minute of injury time.

Joseph Caron Dawe / Eurosport