WE CAME, WE BORED ...UNCONQUERE

MICK McCARTHY had no regrets over not introducing Aaron Connolly earlier following this stalemate with Georgia.

Connolly, 19, was parachuted into the full Ireland squad after shining for Brighton – and he caught the eye on his international debut here.

The rookie striker twice threatened to break the deadlock late on in his 11-minute cameo in an extremely drab game which offered up few opportunities.

But Ireland boss McCarthy said: “I was conscious of making sure we could defend free-kicks and corners.

“But I thought we might nick it with Aaron. He’s done really well and he’s put himself in a place to play on Tuesday.

“I make substitutions as I see fit, I don’t look back and regret that I should have done them sooner. I’m happy with his contribution.”

McCarthy (left) insists that he is not leaving Tbilisi disappointed as the focus switches to facing Switzerland in Geneva.

He added: “We’ve played well in this tournament and played some good football.

“Picking out the one game here where we’ve not used the ball so well is a little bit picky, to be honest.

“I see it as a point won, absolutely. Georgia are a very good side.

“We hit the post and Duffy could have scored the winner at the end. Aaron has had a chance running through, but Darren Randolph has not made a save, even with all of their possession and moving us around.

“We could have been better offensively, but defensively we were very good.

“And if you had offered me four points from Georgia at the start of the competition, I would have taken it.

“Georgia play with freedom and they have very good footballers.

“It allows a sense of freedom to play, which is a bonus for them. They stopped us.

“We would like to play better than that in Switzerland and we have done over the course of the tournament.”

Victory here against their bogey t a t d

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