DROUGHT TO MAKE KEY POINT
header his manager later described as ‘blinding’. ‘That goal was very important for him,’ said O’Neill, who has kept faith with his 33-year-old striker. ‘He will take great confidence with him back to his new club. I’m delighted for him.’ O’Neill also declared himself delighted with a point, for it had looked as if his side would be leaving with nothing having lost their nerve in this crumbling and cavernous stadium. It did not have to be like that. They had stunned the home crowd when Jeff Hendrick netted his first for Ireland inside 140 seconds. Serbia failed to clear from Brady’s whipped free-kick and, when Mitrovic swiped at fresh air, the ball ran invitingly for Hendrick, who steered back through bodies and into the bottom corner from the fringe of the area. Serbia were level just after the hour as Ireland switched off at the back and Filip Kostic poked in from close range. They were in front by 70 minutes when Jon Walters toppled Kostic under minimal contact and Southampton winger Dusan Tadic lifted into the roof of the net from the penalty spot. Murphy, though, saved a point and also proved one with his late intervention. REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (4-4-2): Randolph 6.5; Coleman 7, O’Shea 6, Keogh 6.5, Ward 6 (Quinn 70min, 6); Hendrick 6.5 (Murphy 76, 7), Brady 7.5, Whelan 6.5, McClean 6; Walters 6, Long 6 (Clark 90). Scorers: Hendrick 3, Murphy 80. Booked: Ward, Hendrick, Brady, Whelan. Manager: Martin O’Neill 7. Serbia scorers: Kostic 62, Tadic pen 69. Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary) 6.