Travesty of missed chances as goal drought goes on
Rep of Ireland 0 N Ireland 0
REP OF IRELAND: Randolph, Coleman, Lenihan (Christie 84), Duffy, Egan,McClean (Stevens 66), O’Dowda (Curtis 46), Hendrick, Whelan (Hourihane 36), Brady, Robinson (Maguire 66, Hogan 79). Subs not used: Doyle, Shaun Williams,Obafemi, Shane Long, Arter, Kelleher. Booked: Lenihan, Hourihane.
NORTHERN IRELAND: Peacock-Farrell, Smith (Ward 74), Cathcart, Jonny Evans, Lewis, Corry Evans (McNair 65), Davis, Saville, Whyte (Jones 62), Boyce (Lafferty 71), Dallas. Subs not used: McGovern, McLaughlin, McAuley, McGinn, Ferguson, Hughes, Magennis, Hazard.
Booked: Saville.
Referee: Slavko Vincic (Slovenia).
MICHAEL O’Neill admitted last week, following Northern Ireland’s failure to finish a glut of glorious chances in their three games of the Nations League, that he wouldn’t rule out employing a strikers’ coach.
After yet further ineptitude in front of goal allowed the Republic of Ireland to escape the big international derby clash at the Aviva Stadium last night with an undeserved draw, Northern Ireland manager O’Neill may now be willing to invite suitably qualified applicants to send in their CVs.
It was a travesty Northern Ireland failed to win the first friendly between the countries in seven years, they bossed the game with 60% possession and the demeanour of O’Neill in the technical area told the story — he was utterly frustrated and disappointed not to win the all-Ireland battle against his namesake, Martin.
Gavin Whyte, making his first Northern Ireland start, and Jordan Jones, off the bench, both had great opportunities but were denied by good saves from keeper Darren Randolph, who unsurprisingly was named the Republic’s man of the match.
Northern Ireland played with a high tempo, their passing was slick and terrific but, once again, the final ball was their downfall.
Stuart Dallas, Steven Davis and Liam Boyce all came close while Whyte and George Saville, along with Michael Smith in the first half played some of their finest football for their country. Jonny Evans, Craig Cathcart and Jamal Lewis comfortably coped with the Republic’s rare attacks whose only real threat came from set pieces
Alas, it counted for little and the scoreless draw, allied with the draw in Vienna last night between Austria and Bosnia which relegated Northern Ireland from the second tier of the Nations League, made it a forgettable night.
But the 2,000 members of the Green and White Army, who made the journey south cheered their heroes long after the final whistle.
Michael O’Neill shuffled his pack with Gavin Whyte and Michael Smith coming in and Martin O’Neill included the Derry boys James McClean and Shane Duffy, who both played their under-age football with Northern Ireland.
Both national anthems were loudly booed, despite the numerous appeals over the PA system for mutual respect and when McClean touched the ball he was met with a torrent of negative noise.
We had been told prior to the game that their would be an ‘edge’ to proceedings and, indeed, neither side were holding back in their challenges.
After Seamus Coleman had been denied the opportunity to offer McClean a simple tap-in due to being offside, Northern Ireland, on 14 minutes, had a great opportunity to take the lead.
Whyte was found in space after a delightful over the shoulder pass from Boyce to Stuart Dallas and when the Leeds man was confronted by defenders, he squared it to Whyte. The Oxford man took a touch before shooting but Randolph at full stretch made a
great save. A clash of heads in the Republic box after an aerial challenge between Boyce and Coleman resulted in both men requiring treatment and the ex-Cliftonville returned with his head heavily bandaged.
It took 21 minutes before the Republic finally tested Bailey Peacock-Farrell but Duffy’s downward header, from a Robbie Brady free kick, was tipped over the bar by the 22 year-old.
Northern Ireland, after Saville and Boyce had both been brought down, had a decent sight at goal with a free kick from 22 yards
The wall though came to the Republic’s rescue as Davis’ effort was destined for the bottom corner of the net.
Glenn Whelan, on his 85 th and final international appearance, received a standing ovation, was replaced by Conor Hourihane on 36 minutes and, seconds later, McClean blasted over, much to the delight of the crowd behind the Leeds man’s goal.
Four minutes from the break, Davis made an interception on the edge of his box, rushed forward and played in Dallas. He took the ball in his stride, held off a defender but his shot from 20 yards was comfortably saved by Randolph down his left. Then on the stroke of half time, Smith, who was having his best game in a Northern Ireland shirt, hit a blistering shot from 25 yards over the bar.
Martin O’Neill, at the start of the second half, gave former Derry City striker Ronan Curtis, now at Portsmouth, his debut when he came on for Callum O’Dowda.
Everton full back Coleman was showing his class down the right and when he did well to beat his man after a tussle on the half way line, he found McClean in space on the edge of the box, the Stoke winger fired the ball into six hard box where Robinson could only direct the ball wide.
In the space of 10 minutes after the hour mark, O’Neill made his first change with Kilmarnock’s Jordan Jones taking the place of Whyte on 61 minutes, and Paddy McNair was brought on in his favoured midfield role for Corry Evans.
After Michael Smith drilled across goal, Randolph made a good reaction save as Boyce lurked with intent.
Rangers striker Kyle Lafferty, back after his self-imposed absence from the games in Austria and Bosnia, was booed by the home fans when he replaced Boyce but they were very nearly silenced when Jones dispossessed a dithering Darragh Lenihan but Randolph was once again the Republic hero saving his left boot.
Jamie Ward was brought into play with Smith making way on 74 minutes and then Northern Ireland produced the move of the match involving Davis, McNair and Ward. But in the box, the final ball once again let them down as they appeared to want to walk it into the goal.
Although there were four minutes of injury time, Northern Ireland failed to break the deadlock and they have not scored an away goal since September 2017 in San Marino.
It was a case of what might have been – a story that has been told in Belfast, Vienna, Sarajevo and now Dublin.