FULL-TIME: REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 0-0 NORTHERN IRELAND
90' +3
The Republic of Ireland are looking for one last spell of pressure down the left-hand side through Curtis.
90' +1
Four minutes have been added on at the end of the second half.
89'
Now both sides have taken things back a gear. There's been real lack of second half opportunities, but it could have been so different if not for Randolph between the sticks.
87'
The Republic of Ireland still haven't really threatened this half as we approach the end of the match.
85'
Saville recovers well in the Northern Ireland penalty area to block Brady's cross and force a corner.
84'
C. Christie enters the game and replaces D. Lenihan.
Christie comes on for the Republic of Ireland. Lenihan makes way and will be breathing a huge sigh of relief after his earlier error.
83'
Jones crosses after an extended build-up from Northern Ireland but Duffy heads the ball away.
80'
S. Hogan enters the game and replaces S. Maguire.
Maguire and the medical staff are in agreement that the forward can't continue. Hogan comes on.
78'
Maguire, on as a substitute, is struggling with his hamstring at the moment.
Minute
Description
76'
G. Saville gets yellow.
Saville may have been fouled more than any other Northern Irish player tonight, but he's deservedly in the book now for a shove on Curtis.
Northern Ireland counter through McNair and then Jones but can't find the killer pass on both occasions.
74'
J. Ward enters the game and replaces M. Smith.
Ward will play the last 20 minutes or so in place of Smith.
71'
K. Lafferty enters the game and replaces L. Boyce.
Lafferty takes his place as Northern Ireland's pantomime villain as Boyce heads for the bench.
70'
Randolph saves the Republic of Ireland again! Admittedly, he parried a dangerous cross straight towards Boyce beforehand, but smothered the Burton forward well before the ball is cleared away.
66'
S. Maguire enters the game and replaces C. Robinson.
E. Stevens enters the game and replaces J. McClean.
Robinson makes way for Preston North End team-mate Maguire.
McClean receives warm applause from the home fans, and something a little bit different from the away contingent, on his way off the field. Stevens comes on in his place.
65'
P. McNair enters the game and replaces C. Evans.
Another Northern Ireland sub sees McNair come on for Corry Evans.
Smith whips in a cross for Boyce, who can't keep his header down under pressure from Duffy.
63'
C. Hourihane gets yellow.
Hourihane is booked for kicking out at Lewis on the ground.
Corry Evans misses a chance to square for Dallas in the box before Republic of Ireland defenders shepherd him out of play.
61'
J. Jones enters the game and replaces G. Whyte.
The lively Whyte leaves the match to be replaced by Jones.
59'
McClean drills a shot across goal where Robinson arrives, only to spoon a shot high and wide of the target. That was a big chance for the Republic of Ireland in a game where they've had few sights of goal.
Lewis jostles with Coleman as the right-back charges into the Northern Ireland box. The home side want a penalty as the Everton man goes to ground but the referee says no.
57'
The second half lull continues as Brady kicks an attempted pass with the outside of his boot straight out for a throw-in.
55'
Brady's latest free-kick supply is claimed by Peacock-Farrell. No big chances to speak of in this second half yet.
53'
Debutant Curtis stretches his legs to chase an overhit ball in the channel, which goes out for a goal-kick despite the 22-year-old's best efforts. Willing runners haven't been a problem for the Republic of Ireland tonight.
52'
Brady cuts a frustrated figure as he fouls Cathcart in Northern Ireland's half.
48'
Smith plays a quick corner to Davis on the edge of the box, but the Northern Ireland captain completely miscues his shot from range.
47'
Evans' defensive header back to Peacock-Farrell doesn't appear to have the legs with Robinson lurking. Luckily, the keeper gathers just in time.
46'
R. Curtis enters the game and replaces C. O'Dowda.
Martin O'Neill does opt to change up his attack by swapping out O'Dowda for Curtis, who makes his debut.
The second half is underway.
45' +3
Smith smashes a powerful effort just over the bar from 30 yards, for what will be the last action of the first half.
HALF-TIME: REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 0-0 NORTHERN IRELAND
45' +2
Egan takes no risks with a teasing, floated cross by Lewis on the left-hand side for Northern Ireland.
45' +1
Two minutes have been added on at the end of this first half.
44'
Dallas is involved again as he tees up Saville just outside the penalty box. The midfielder sidefoots the ball into the stands, though.
42'
Dallas tries to find half-a-yard on his right foot, checking inside past three Republic of Ireland defenders, but his final shot is comfortable enough for Randolph.
41'
Cathcart goes through the back of Robinson on the left-wing. The foul was a bit too far away for Brady to deliver from this time.
39'
Northern Ireland are having to go all the way back to the goalkeeper at times, such is the intensity of the home side's pressing.
37'
A foul by Dallas gives Brady yet another opportunity to deliver from a dead ball situation. Northern Ireland clear straight to McClean, who can only blaze the ball over the crossbar.
36'
C. Hourihane enters the game and replaces G. Whelan.
Whelan's cameo is over, for what could be his final appearance for the Republic of Ireland. Aston Villa team-mate Hourihane replaces him.
35'
They can't deal with Brady's crossing again, but Lenihan can only head straight at Peacock-Farrell.
34'
Saville goes for a foul of his own by shoving O'Dowda to ground. Northern Ireland don't need to be giving Brady chances to deliver on his trusty left foot.
32'
And Boyce's credentials this season support his bright performance. He's been directly involved in 12 goals in all club competitions this season (8 goals, 4 assists). That's more than any of his international team-mates here tonight.
30'
The bandaged-up Boyce is finding pockets of space all over the forward line for Northern Ireland. He's linked the play up neatly in Dublin so far.
28'
Davis’ ensuing free-kick takes a deflection on its way out for a corner. Northern Ireland can’t capitalise on the extra set-piece opportunity.
27'
Saville is bundled over by Hendrick, who then bumps straight into Boyce on the edge of the box. That was two for the price of one for the Republic of Ireland midfielder.
25'
Whelan gives the ball away cheaply in midfield before the recipient Dallas tries a chipped effort towards the top corner. His ambitious effort sails over Randolph’s crossbar.
24'
A long throw from Smith causes all sorts of problems in the Republic of Ireland’s penalty area before Cathcart shoots wide of the goal.
22'
Brady delivers a wicked free-kick from which Duffy heads directly into ground and towards goal, requiring a touch over the bar from Peacock-Farrell. McClean subsequently volleyed over the bar to provoke more jeers from the crowd.
18'
Dallas tries to run in behind early from a Northern Ireland free-kick but can’t quite hook his cross back into a dangerous position.
16'
D. Lenihan gets yellow.
Lenihan receives the first booking of the match for blocking off Saville. The Northern Ireland man had just kicked the ball into acres of space behind the defender.
15'
Coleman and Boyce both seemed to clash heads during a near-miss for the Republic of Ireland. Medical staff have quickly repaired the damage.
11'
The referee has just let a rather robust-looking tackle on O'Dowda go. How long until the first booking?
9'
Robinson shoots from range but his effort deflects away for a corner kick.
8'
McClean slightly miscontrols a diagonal ball, much to the amusement of Northern Irish fans. He’s tonight’s pantomime villain.
7'
Lewis catches Coleman with his boot as the right-back tries to clear for the Republic of Ireland. A foul is given to diffuse pressure from the visitors.
6'
Saville marauds away on the right-hand side but overhits a cross beyond any Northern Ireland team-mates.
5'
Lewis tries to catch Randolph out at the near post with the second of two early corners. Luckily, his defence were on hand to clear away.
4'
Whyte comes out on top of his first battle with McClean down the right wing and earns the first Northern Ireland corner of the match.
2'
There’s a great intensity about this game in the early stages. Both sides are committing multiple players to press at every opportunity.
1'
Northern Ireland start things here.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the international friendly between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in Dublin.
It’s been a week in which mentions of both countries have dominated the wider news agenda, but it’s all about football here tonight at the Aviva Stadium. Martin O’Neill’s hosts are winless in four, with a stinging September defeat to Wales still fresh in the memory among Nations League disappointment. The prospect of bragging rights against their neighbours may be the extra boost needed to get the Republic of Ireland out of a rut.
Northern Ireland have lost all three of their opening Nations League fixtures during a similarly tough run, while they’ve not scored in any of their last six away outings. According to captain Steven Davis, both sides’ form will only add to the edge tonight. The visitors will want to channel their last triumph in Dublin, a 1-0 win all the way back in 1999. Team news is on the way.
SUBS: Colin Doyle, Cyrus Christie, Shaun Williams, Sean Maguire, Enda Stevens, Ronan Curtis, Caoimhin Kelleher, Conor Hourihane, Scott Hogan, Michael Obafemi, Kevin Long, Harry Arter.
NORTHERN IRELAND (4-3-3) Bailey Peacock-Farrell; Michael Smith, Craig Cathcart, Jonny Evans, Jamal Lewis; Corry Evans, Steven Davis, George Saville; Stuart Dallas, Liam Boyce, Gavin Whyte.
Michael O’Neill hands Whyte his full Northern Ireland debut, and Boyce’s fine form for Burton Albion has also earned him a starting role up front. We’re just over ten minutes away from kick-off here.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (3-4-3): Darren Randolph; Darragh Lenihan, Shane Duffy, John Egan; Seamus Coleman, Glenn Whelan, Jeff Hendrick, James McClean; Callum O’Dowda, Callum Robinson, Robbie Brady.
President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins has just greeted both sets of players on the pitch. Once the national anthems have been sung, we'll be underway.
Both teams were unable to match their early intensity with quality in front of goal in the first half. The best chance fell to Northern Ireland when Dallas slipped in Whyte, all on his own, but the Oxford United man was expertly thwarted by Randolph in goal. Brady’s set-piece delivery has been a constant feature for the Republic of Ireland, though, with Duffy going closest from a scrappy header tipped over by Peacock-Farrell.
Martin O’Neill’s front-three of O’Dowda, Robinson and Brady haven’t quite clicked in open play so far, which will have been an area for concern during the first 45 minutes. Northern Ireland will feel they have been the stronger team and more likely to spark this game into life after the interval.
The Republic of Ireland will be bitterly disappointed with their inability to create clearcut chances at the Aviva Stadium, having registered just two attempts on target all game. They head to Denmark for their Nations League closer next Monday. For Northern Ireland, it’s another solid performance without the goals to match. Austria are their final Nations League opponents this weekend. That concludes our coverage, thanks for reading along!
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