SAVE US A PRAYER KELLEHER

WILL Caoimhin Kelleher's penalty save against Cristiano Ronaldo go down with John Aldridge's header against Mexico at the 1994 World Cup as a great and important Irish consolation prize?

- BY MARK McCADDEN

There is a scenario in which the narrow margin of Saturday's defeat in Portugal could be as crucial come the end of this campaign as Aldo's Orlando strike was in sending Ireland to the last-16 the last time the tournament was held in the US.

A win against Armenia tonight and a defeat for Hungary in Portugal could, if Ireland manage a three-goal swing in the process, would suddenly see Heimir Hallgrímsson's men vault into second place on goal-difference, ahead of the November games.