Jason McAteer battles with Pierre Wome (Allsport).

By Ian Parkes, PA Sport

Win, lose or draw, there was only ever going to be one question asked about the Republic of Ireland after this match: Did they miss Roy Keane?

The answer was of course "yes" because how can any team not miss one of the greatest players in the world in his position.

But fortunately for Mick McCarthy's men they did not miss Keane as much as most people thought they would, and they came from behind to secure a battling draw against the African and Olympic champions.

The Irish fell behind to a well-worked goal after 39 minutes as striker Patrick Mboma - who spent the final three months of last season in the Premiership on loan at Sunderland - celebrated his 50th international appearance in style.

But Ipswich captain Matt Holland came to the rescue with a quality strike after 52 minutes, drilling home a low shot from 20 yards to put the Republic's first point on the board in Group E.

To coin a cliche, this was a typical game of two halves. The Republic looked nervous during the first 45 minutes and Cameroon deserved their lead by virtue of creating the better chances.

But whatever manager McCarthy said at the break worked a treat, as his players came out of their shells and gave Cameroon the run-around in the cooler conditions here in the Big Swan stadium and could easily have nicked all three points.

As the Republic lined up for kick-off, you couldn't help feeling that something - or rather someone - was missing.

That someone was of course Keane, and although his replacement Mark Kinsella was busy enough alongside Holland, Ireland were missing a leader and a midfield driving force.

They were missing something else too, a target man. Both Robbie Keane and Damien Duff were dwarfed by Cameroon centre backs Rigobert Song and Raymond Kalla, and that meant there was a reluctance to deliver the ball into the box.

Perhaps Duff would have been more effective in his natural left wing berth, with either Niall Quinn or Clinton Morrison as a centre forward.

Manager McCarthy had sprung a couple of surprises with his team selection, making two changes to the line-up he is known to prefer.

Having said on the eve of the game that everyone was fit, he left out right back Steve Finnan, who picked up an ankle injury in Saipan, and played Gary Kelly.

In the centre of defence Gary Breen was named ahead of Kenny Cunningham, who suffered a hamstring strain in Saipan.

For Cameroon, Mboma significantly shrugged off an Achilles injury and showed the kind of form he often struggled to produce during his spell at the Stadium of Light.

Buoyed by their noisy fans the Republic started brightly enough and built patiently down both flanks, but Kevin Kilbane on the left and Jason McAteer on the right held off from delivering that final ball into the danger zone.

It took 10 minutes for Cameroon to come into their stride and it was lucky for the Irish that when they did they had Shay Given as their last line of defence.

The Newcastle goalkeeper, voted the best in the Premiership by his fellow professionals last season, made a crucial save after 18 minutes.

Samuel Eto'o left Breen for dead with a slick one-two with Mboma and suddenly he was in space on the left edge of the box. But Given was smartly off his line and made a fine block as the Cameroon striker tried to lift the ball over his body.

Given could do little, however, to prevent the opening goal 11 minutes later.

Steve Staunton, the man who inherited the captain's armband from rebel Keane, was skinned on the left byeline by Real Mallorca's Eto'o, who carries the burden of being described as Roger Milla's goalscoring heir.

Eto'o pulled the ball back for Mboma who found a yard of space for himself and from six yards stroked home his 28th international goal.

The Republic's best chance of the half fell to Keane, and he might have done better than head Ian Harte's cross wide. They also almost benefited from an own goal as skipper Song, the former Liverpool and West Ham defender, deflected Harte's low free-kick at the near post and goalkeeper Boukar Alioum had to react smartly to make the save.

McAteer had been struggling with a knee injury and was replaced by Finnan at the break, who slotted in at right back with Kelly pushed in front of him.

Within three minutes Ireland might have been level. Harte picked out Kilbane with a cross from the left but the Sunderland winger glanced his header wide of the far post - and he knew he should have done better.

There was a scare after 51 minutes as Geremi robbed Harte and fired wide from the edge of the box, and a minute later the Irish were celebrating.

Kilbane's cross was headed out as far as Holland, and he marked his 20th international appearance by firing home his fourth goal, and a real peach in the process.

The Irish were on top and McCarthy went for it by replacing Harte with Stephen Reid after 78 minutes - shortly after Mbomba has been rested too.

Cameroon were on the back foot and were saved by the woodwork after 82 minutes. Keane let fly from 20 yards and Alioum was a spectator as the ball crashed off his left hand post.

There was almost a dream finish in the final minute as Duff's trickery won a free-kick on the left, 25 yards from goal.

Kelly tapped it short to Reid, and his fierce drive was tipped over by the goalkeeper.

McCarthy rated this match as the hardest of the Group games and said the important thing was not to lose, so it was little wonder there were smiles all round at the end.

The way the Republic finished this match will give the much hope going into Wednesday's match against the Germans, and at least McCarthy won't be faced with calls to fly out Keane on a rescue mission.

Teams:

Rep of Ireland: Given, Gary Kelly, Breen, Staunton, Harte (Reid 78), McAteer (Finnan 45), Holland, Kilbane, Kinsella, Duff, Robbie Keane.

Subs Not Used: Carsley, Connolly, Cunningham, Dunne, Alan Kelly, Kiely, Morrison, O'Brien, Quinn.

Booked: McAteer, Finnan, Reid.

Goals: Holland 52.

Cameroon: Alioum, Kalla, Wome, Song, Lauren, Geremi, Eto'o, Foe, Olembe, Tchato, Mboma (Suffo 69). Subs Not Used: Alnoudji, Djemba-Djemba, Epalle, Job, Kameni, Kome, Mettomo, N'Diefi, Ndo, Njanka, Songo'o.

Booked: Kalla.

Goals: Mboma 39.

Att: 33,679

Ref: T Kamikawa (Japan).