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An overjoyed Daryl Murphy after his goal. Nick Potts

Murphy ends 23-game goal drought as Ireland come away from Belgrade with a point

Martin O’Neill’s side weren’t at their best in the 2-2 draw with Serbia tonight.

Serbia 2

Ireland 2

Ben Blake reports from the Red Star Stadium in Belgrade

DARYL MURPHY AND JEFF HENDRICK both broke their international goal ducks as Ireland began their World Cup qualifying campaign with a 2-2 draw away to Serbia.

In a scrappy, disjointed affair, the Boys in Green took an early lead before conceding twice — only for substitute Murphy to find the back of the net with a bullet header late on.

There were real pre-match worries that the game would have to be postponed due to torrential rain that fell for much of Monday afternoon and into the evening, but referee Victor Kassai was happy to deem the pitch playable after an inspection.

The 55,000-seater Red Star Stadium was expected to be half-full for the first game of campaign. Considerably less than that showed up, however, and much of the stands lay empty at kick-off with those present grouped in the upper sections to shelter from the rain.

The low attendance made for a less-than-hostile atmosphere and in fact it was the small pocket of Irish fans who could regularly be heard making the most noise.

They were given something to sing about after just two minutes as Ireland got off to the perfect start. James McClean’s positive run won the visitors a free-kick 25 yards out from goal.

An in-swinger from Robbie Brady was palmed away by 20-year-old goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic, making his competitive debut, but O’Shea recycled well to send it back into the danger zone.

Shane Long laid off to Hendrick and Burnley’s record signing drilled a left-footed strike towards goal, where it was helped in by a deflection off Serbian captain Branislav Ivanovic.

Soccer WCup 2018 Serbia Ireland The Irish players celebrate with Hendrick. Darko Vojinovic Darko Vojinovic

The Serbians threatened in fits and starts throughout the first half, with Hamburg’s Filip Kostic their main threat. The 23-year-old winger created two chances for himself to force Darren Randolph into a couple of smart saves — collecting the first and pushing the second behind for a corner.

Richard Keogh had to clear after a goalmouth scramble and Walters’ header was kept out by Rajkovic down the other end.

Worryingly, Ireland were unable to get any sort of passing rhythm going and continued to ride their luck.

Antonio Rukavina’s low cross was saved by Randolph, and fell at the feet of Aleksander Mitrovic. The Newcastle United had the goal at his mercy but spurned a golden chance with his poor first touch.

A Serbian goal was always coming and they grabbed a deserved equaliser 17 minutes into the second half. Tadic flicked the ball over the head of O’Shea and it broke kindly for Kostic to stroke in his first international goal.

Serbia v Republic of Ireland - 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying - Group D - Rajko Mitic Stadium Filip Kostic scored Serbia's first. Nick Potts Nick Potts

The same player was then guilty of winning his side a pretty dubious penalty as he went down under a challenge from Walters. Southampton man Tadic stepped up to send the penalty high and past Randolph as Serbia went in front for the first time.

With the game really opening up, substitute Andrija Pavlovic crashed a strike off the crossbar and Walters headed home from Hendrick’s curling ball only to be ruled offside.

Stephen Quinn was brought on for Stephen Ward in a switch that saw Brady moved to left-back, before Murphy was introduced in place of Hendrick with Ireland now chasing the game.

McClean headed high and wide at the front post and Long shot straight at Rajkovic when he looked destined to score.

But with ten minutes remaining, the unmarked Murphy met a Brady corner to score his first goal in a green shirt on his 24th senior appearance.

Far from their finest display, but O’Neill will take a point as defeat looked the most likely outcome at one stage.

SERBIA: Rajkovic, Rukavina, Gudelj, Nastasic, Ivanovic (c), Mitrovic (Pavlovic 59), Tadic, Mladenovic (Tosic 76), Milivojevic, Kostic (Katai 82), Vukovic.

IRELAND: Randolph, Coleman (c), O’Shea, Keogh, Ward (Quinn 70), Whelan, Hendrick (Murphy 76), Brady, McClean, Long (Clark 90), Walters.

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Coleman skippers Ireland as O’Shea starts in strong team to face Serbia

LIVE: Serbia v Ireland, World Cup qualifier

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    Mute Nic Antonio
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:00 PM

    Sick of draws,Gave Serbia the ball for 60 mins and they were still crap even with all their possession.A lunatic keeper,missing Matic/Kolorov and about 10 fans in the ground they were there for the taking.Long and McClean were frustrating tonight I think Long and Walters should have been swapped positionally and Brady should have been on the wing,he’s not a central midfielder.We need to turn the corner and start beating the likes of Serbia so sick of draw after draw. Whelan really does suck the life out of us too,the likes of Arter and Quinn will keep the ball better.On the plus side great drive to get back into it,Quinn woke us up.

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    Mute Elma Phudd
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:04 PM

    What I find frustrating is that consistently over the last 15 years, every time we go in front, we sit back and invite teams on. It even happens multiple times in some games. And we chase like mad when we’re behind. That’s why we draw so much. We need to learn to push on when we’re on top.

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    Mute An_Beal_Bocht
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:06 PM

    Nic, get real would ya, how many 90 minutes have most of those players played this season, the likes of Walters and Coleman have barely played at all, and you want us to go away from home and expect us to beat a side that are winning underage world cups! Shane long played well, battled like a dog all night up on his own

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    Mute An_Beal_Bocht
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:11 PM

    It was a mad mental game. It was like a Sunday league game with brutal pitch and comedies of errors but international football is a results business and that was a decent point away from home

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    Mute Nic Antonio
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:11 PM

    It’s the start of the season,sure they had Mitrovic up top who’s played a half for Newcastle.We were 1 up and say back so a win was ALWAYS possible.not faulting their World Cup win but the keeper was part of that squad and was the worst player on the pitch tonight.Long was isolated in fairness to him.

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    Mute An_Beal_Bocht
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:21 PM

    I agree but a draw was always a decent result. Going ahead early never suits us, for whatever reason Irish teams never like being ahead and have never pushed on, that was the case 25 years ago when we had players in all the top English clubs. Now we have a good few journey men and lads who aren’t even playing regularly and yet they’re pulling results like this out of the bag, I mean how did ivanovic not score against a goalie who’s not even playing for his team, what a save

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    Mute Nic Antonio
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:24 PM

    Agreed excellent result,my point is we need to turn the corner.Its been a exciting theme for too long.

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    Mute Nic Antonio
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:24 PM

    Recurring not exciting

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    Mute An_Beal_Bocht
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:44 PM

    Well until we produce more home grown talent then I can’t see it changing all that much any time soon, in the meantime I’m going to support our lads and appreciate the effort they put in

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    Mute Nic Antonio
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:46 PM

    Fingers crossed we will.absolutely,long road ahead but no matter the style will always get behind em.

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    Mute An_Beal_Bocht
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:55 PM

    Yup, that’s our Euros hangover over with hopefully, would have liked to have seen Wes come on, though, even just to slow up the game in the last 10 minutes there

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    Mute James Delaney
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    Sep 6th 2016, 1:10 AM

    @nic – Totally Agree – The usual RUBBISH – Irish Teams have no guts – pyssies the lot – gave the ball away fir an hr – Bad Mentality. 2points Lost.

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    Mute James Delaney
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    Sep 6th 2016, 1:12 AM

    @nic – Thats not what u said earlier – ‘excellent result’ – me ar$e – Abs Rubbish. Are u a COYBIG sh!thead – Ahhh aren’t we great fans – Sad.

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    Mute Nic Antonio
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    Sep 6th 2016, 6:51 AM

    James I said I was sick of draws and we need to turn a corner but considering we were away and played poorly it’s a very good result.Thanks for the Sh!thead remark though much appreciated.

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    Mute Laura Walsh
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:01 PM

    We clearly play our best football when we’re chasing a goal. Whenever we score first we sit back and invite pressure, every time. Our worst performance at the Euros was against Belgium because we’d already settled for a draw before kick off. Our best was against Italy because we knew we had to actually go out and play football. Seems we’ve learned nothing. Having said that, a point away from home in tough conditions against a dogged side is nothing to be sad about.

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    Mute An_Beal_Bocht
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:14 PM

    I’m watching sport 30 odd years now and we have always been must effective when behind and/or written off. That was the case even when we had players playing for the top clubs in England, it seems to be just an Irish mentality

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    Mute Peter McGlynn
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:22 PM

    I though my we played v well against France after going a goal up. That first half was one of the best displays by any Irish team, considering the quality of the opposition.

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    Mute An_Beal_Bocht
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    Sep 5th 2016, 11:01 PM

    I’ll give you that, but the fact that it feels so rare tells its own story

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    Mute Eamonn Hourigan
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:03 PM

    If that was trappatoni people would be outraged. Under 12′s learn to pass the ball about to relieve pressure and can’t or won’t do it. Stole a point! Even against that crazy goalkeeper.

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    Mute Les Behan
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:05 PM

    Horrible game but a point away from home is a good point.

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    Mute Jimmy Murphy
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:03 PM

    All things considered, happy with the point.

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    Mute Boris Defender
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:16 PM

    Sarcasm?

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    Mute An_Beal_Bocht
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:23 PM

    No he’s a supporter, maybe you should try it sometime, and not just when they’re playing in summer tournaments

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    Mute Ger
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:41 PM

    Agreed. Considering how badly we played and how many times the ball bounced in our favour in our own penalty box I am happy with the draw. Dont get me wrong. We could have beaten them if we set ourselves up well and played better than we did. But all things considered we did well to come away with a point.

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    Mute Don Dealgan
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:07 PM

    “Put them under pressure” J. Charlton. Now it’s “put ourselves uner pressure”

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    Mute An_Beal_Bocht
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:27 PM

    Jack’s teams put themselves under pressure plenty of times

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    Mute smithers
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:03 PM

    That was a strange game, frustrating as hell but how many times have we come away from an Ireland game saying that

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    Mute Darren Burke
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:08 PM

    Scarleh for yer man that hit the bar after Randolph’s fumble! Fair play to the lads for getting the draw in the end, absolute steal

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    Mute Kieran C
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    Sep 6th 2016, 1:14 AM

    ‘Yer man’ must have a world record amount of caps.He has played against ireland since football began.

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    Mute Paul Ó'Mórdha
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:02 PM

    We are muck without Hoolahan

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    Mute Dave Murray
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:06 PM

    Awful and frustrating but could be a crucial point, although annoyingly we should’ve tried for 3, Wales and Austria hopefully drop points in Belgrade. It’s going to be a really tight group with all teams dropping points me thinks…

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    Mute sparky
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:04 PM

    Bog snortling would be a great description of that match,but Dunphy comparing Stephen quinn as a game changer and should have been playing…give me a break..good result.

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    Mute running man
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:46 PM

    Have to agree with Dunphy this time, Quinn made a difference when he came on, should be in instead of Whelan. How about Arter and Quinn in the middle? Put Stephen O Donnell from Dundalk on the bench as well. O Shea not great tonight. O ,Connell from Celtic could be an option as would Horgan from Dundalk,at least he would run at them with pace and take them on.

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    Mute Trevor Wallace
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:50 PM

    Horgan was the best player for Dundalk by a mile. Like to see him getting involved or a move to the Championship.

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    Mute An_Beal_Bocht
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:59 PM

    I was actually a little disappointed with Horgan in the champions league games, he’s usually so economical with the ball but thought he gave it away a lot particularly against Legia and looked a bit nervous. Usually one of the best in Ireland on the ball

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    Mute Trevor Wallace
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    Sep 5th 2016, 11:03 PM

    Thought he was MOM in the last game by a mile. Wouldn’t be surprised if he moved abroad in January if he keeps that form up.

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    Mute Petr Tarasov
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:03 PM

    Garbage.

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    Mute Fran Heavey
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:16 PM

    How can Martin O’Neill make the exact same mistake in EVERY SINGLE GAME??I just can’t understand it.He’s a shocking manager….an extension of Trap whatever way you try and spin it

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    Mute Stephen MacMahon
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:10 PM

    Can’t think of any positives from that. Shocking. We Stole that point. I Just hope we learn from it

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    Mute Damien Byrne
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:16 PM

    We lead for 60 mins & then when we went behind had a goal disallowed, Long point blank effort saved & Murphy goal so I’d hardly say we stole anything. They were gifted a penalty & got the lions share of refereeing decisions all night

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    Mute Trevor Wallace
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:34 PM

    What about the last ditch defending in our box all night? Serbia should have been level at half time.

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    Mute Damien Byrne
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    Sep 5th 2016, 11:27 PM

    Draw was a fair result in my opinion which is have been more than happy with before the game

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    Mute Joe Keogh
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    Sep 6th 2016, 9:02 AM

    They played us off the field for 65 min we had 45 successful passes in the first half. The Irish play was crap during that period. If you enjoy that kind of football there is no hope for the Irish team.The excuse O’Neill had was we were playing a great team?. While the result was very good, we have to do something to get them to play football ,you would see better in a good schoolboy match.

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    Mute Tadgh Healy
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:22 PM

    Whelan clearly didn’t want the ball at any stage at one point John O’Shea passed it to him and whelan turned away.What he adds to this team is beyond me dosen’t pass the ball just hoofs it up in the air job done. So if O’Neill is happy with this he is Trap part 2.

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    Mute Ger
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:46 PM

    Whelan constantly did that under Trap. He would hide and turn his back to teammates to avoid being passed to but I thought he changed tact under MON. But I agree; he was back to his woeful worst tonight. Cant see him starting when McCarthy is back and even though Harry A is an attacking midfielder id play him as a holding midfielder in front of Whelan.

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    Mute Trevor Wallace
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:22 PM

    I’m sorry but that whole game was muck! Posted earlier same players and same result when are we going to change it up? We defend too deep protecting a lead, did not pressure the ball enough and let’s be honest Serbia could have equalised easily in the first 45. What the hell are we doing playing Robbie at 10??? Been asking for Murph to start up front for a year now if we’re going to play it long. Long is not the answer on his own up front. I hope this is a wake up call that Keane and O’Neil need. Was dreading Martins comments after that this was a good point away from home. Could have written that script myself. In reality we were poor could not control the ball, gave Whelan a chance over the years but he really adds nothing to the team. More infuriating is we go a goal up their keeper is all over the place and we sit back. Not to do a Leicester and play on the counter but to soak up pressure. Then we only start playing when we go behind which I have watched for several years now. Yes we have guts and the Irish passion we need to harness it so much better! Enough is enough, prefer to see us change it bring in some younger unknowns. Arter when fit needs to be in this side. Our midfield is cack and has been for several years.

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    Mute Trevor Wallace
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:25 PM

    PS Does not a drought not mean a substance was there previously? More like Murph lost his virginity tonight and kudos to him. Would have been in my starting 11.

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    Mute Patrick Norton
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:34 PM

    Very lucky to come away from that with a point. Taught the ref had such a biased game altogether. Haven’t seen such bad decisions since Rio. Need to question having Whelan in the team as well as o Shea. Mcclean was poor as well, very mcgeadesque with his play. On positive note a point is still a point and can’t see us loosing against Georgia next. Let’s take it one game at a time. Bring arter in and hopefully McCarthy. Gonna be a close group in the end.

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    Mute An_Beal_Bocht
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:52 PM

    Ya was I the only one who thought OShea was dodgy out, I mean he gave the ball away as last man back in the last 10 mins there and was at sixes and sevens for their first goal

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    Mute Martin Flood
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:22 PM

    The worst thing Ireland can do is score early. Depressing stuff altogether.

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    Mute Ger
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:34 PM

    Awful performance but there was a time when we would have lost a game like that, maybe heavily, but we came away with a point. Could be an important point.

    I am a big fan of Brady but I couldnt understand why he was playing central with players like Hoolihan and Arthur on the bench. He looked lost and the game passed him by. Only time he contributed was from set pieces or when he drifted into the channels. I cant understand why O’Neill never made that change in the 2nd half.

    Pretty much every player made mistakes that they wouldnt normally. But I think we have the squad to win this group. But the 11 on the pitch playing in that formation have no chance.

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    Mute Joey_Westland
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:20 PM

    Well done, another truly herpic performance from the boys right I’m off to greet them at the airport……..

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    Mute Mark Fitzmaurice
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:52 PM

    Yeah. Scabby b*stards

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    Mute Aiden
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:28 PM

    Going to be a crazy group a lot of ups and downs and we have to win our home matches.Also goal difference could be very important

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    Mute James Delaney
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    Sep 5th 2016, 11:17 PM

    Dreadful maych, dreadful result. Always the same. Can we get the killer instinct into this team – instead of the usual DRAW CRAP.

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    Mute Matthew McMahon
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:41 PM

    What is it with Ireland and panicking when we go in front. We just sat back and let them come at us after the first goal. Have the confidence to push on and try and widen the gap. They were more than capable of winning tonight if they didn’t shy away after the first goal

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    Mute Stuart Kelly
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    Sep 6th 2016, 1:36 AM

    I was so pished off we scored early on and first.

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    Mute John O'Reilly
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:14 PM

    Long looked very isolated at times today not enough support from midfield, felt Glen Crowe should have been brought on to work alongside him up top

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    Mute Trevor Wallace
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    Sep 5th 2016, 10:27 PM

    Bring Murphy on in a 2 up front with long and watch the difference.

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    Mute James Delaney
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    Sep 6th 2016, 1:08 AM

    More-like – Ireland come away without 2 points. Rubbish display.

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