The Republic of Ireland's World Cup hopes suffered a setback when Kevin Kilbane's own goal denied his side victory over Bulgaria on Saturday night.

Giovanni Trapattoni's men looked to be on their way to a fourth win in five qualifiers when defender Richard Dunne headed them in front with just 40 seconds gone.

But with a crowd of 60,002 roaring them on at Croke Park, Robbie Keane and Aiden McGeady were denied by goalkeeper Dimitar Ivankov in quick succession - and Ireland were made to pay when Kilbane diverted Stiliyan Petrov's 74th-minute cross into his own net.

Keane might have snatched all three points in a frenetic conclusion to the game, but Ireland eventually had to make do with a draw.

They remain seven points clear of the Bulgarians, who have played a game fewer, in Group Eight - but with leaders Italy awaiting them in Bari on Wednesday before tricky trips to Sofia and Cyprus, even the pragmatic Trapattoni may view tonight's outcome as two points dropped rather than one gained.

Ireland have developed something of a nasty habit in recent times of conceding early goals - they did it in November's friendly defeat by Poland and again as they had to come from behind to beat Georgia last month, much to the annoyance of their manager.

It was a pleasant change therefore for the Italian to see his side turn the tables and force their way in front almost immediately.

Having entrusted Stephen Hunt with the task of filling the boots of the injured Damien Duff, Trapattoni received an instant reward from the Reading midfielder.

It was he who won the game's first free-kick and then delivered it into the middle for John O'Shea to flick on and Dunne to power a downward header past helpless goalkeeper Dimitar Ivankov.

The Irish could not have dreamt of a better start but were to discover very quickly that the job was far from done.

Bulgaria had arrived without the injured Dimitar Berbatov, Martin Petrov and Valei Bojinov. But Trapattoni had been at pains to stress in the run-up to the game that there were other dangers - and so it proved.

Shay Given had to dive full length to keep out Petrov's fourth-minute drive from 25 yards - and as Bulgaria made the better use of the possession they were afforded, the Republic found themselves on the back foot at regular intervals.

They were almost pegged back with 27 minutes gone when Stanislav Manolev skipped passed left-back Kilbane and pulled the ball back invitingly for Blagoy Georgiev.

However, he directed his first-time shot too close to Given - who dived low to his left to save comfortably.

In the meantime, Glenn Whelan had forced Ivankov into a regulation save with a shot from distance. But he and central midfield partner Keith Andrews spent much of the half working to protect their back four, as Bulgaria looked for a way back into the game.

Trapattoni insisted before the game - and indeed, throughout his reign to date - that the result was all that mattered.

But he welcomed his players back to the dressing room at the break, knowing they needed to lift their game if they were to head off a Bulgarian fightback.

With Petrov dictating the play immediately after the restart, Ireland were seeing little of the ball - although as the half wore on, they gradually regained the shape which had been alarmingly lacking immediately after the restart.

Substitute Radostin Kishishev saw a 55th-minute shot unwittingly deflected wide by one of his compatriots - but Ireland came close to extending their lead on the hour.

Kevin Doyle got up well to head down O'Shea's free-kick to Robbie Keane, who controlled with his chest before firing in a left-foot shot which Ivankov saved well at point-blank range.

The goalkeeper was both villain and hero with 67 minutes gone when he punched a Hunt cross he really should have caught straight to McGeady but then recovered to make a vital save as the Celtic man side-footed towards goal.

But having failed to edge their way further ahead, Ireland paid the price with 16 minutes remaining.

Petrov timed his run to perfection to meet Kishishev's beautifully floated ball over the top beyond the far post - and when he turned it back across goal, the unfortunate Kilbane could only help it into his own net.

Keane curled a right-foot effort just wide in the dying moments, and Doyle headed straight at Ivankov - but there was to be no late escape.

Teams

Rep of Ireland Given, McShane, O'Shea, Dunne, Kilbane,McGeady (Keogh 90), Whelan, Andrews, Stephen Hunt, Keane, Doyle.

Subs Not Used: Kiely, Delaney, Kelly, Noel Hunt, Gibson, Folan.

Goals: Dunne 1.

Bulgaria Ivankov, Manolev, Stoyanov, Tomasic, Angelov,Telkiyski, Petrov, Georgiev (Makriev 66),Milanov (Kishishev 23), Popov (Dimitrov 45), Rangelov.

Subs Not Used: Georgi Petkov, Todorov, Yankov, Topuzakov.

Booked: Milanov, Manolev, Kishishev.

Goals: Kilbane 74 og.

Att: 30,000

Ref: Ivan Bebek (Croatia).