Ireland 0 Wales 0 - WC18 Qualifier
Ireland sit in second place in World Cup Qualifying Group D with half the games played after a 0-0 draw with Wales in Dublin on Friday night. The visitors were much the better side in the first-half, and the hosts didn't really step it up until an unfortunate injury to captain Seamus Coleman, after a horror challenge from Neil Taylor, with a quarter of the game left.
After five minutes, supporters partook in a minute's applause for former Derry captain Ryan McBride, who passed away last weekend. The mark of respect followed on from a fierce challenge by fellow Derry man, James McClean, on Gareth Bale. But the opening ten minutes were quiet, as both teams attempted to put attacks together, but none were particularly fluid or probing. The one time when Bale found himself in some space, he overcooked his cross.
The visitors had their first corner in the 13th minute, which was followed quickly by another. But Ireland's defence cleared the danger on both occasions. It would lead to a Welsh siege on the Irish goal, and Joe Allen's cross to the back post was headed back across goal, before the hosts again cleared it.
Chris Coleman's side continued to push, and the best Ireland could muster was a long-range David Meyler shot which he sliced acres wide. Wales' response was immediate, and another deep ball from Bale was only just over the head of Neil Taylor. The warnings signs were there for the Boys in Green, however.
Ireland's first real attack came in the 32nd minute. Shane Long received the ball on the edge of the box, and laid it back for Jeff Hendrick. The Southampton striker went for the return ball, but Hendrick's effort had too much pace on it, and the chance was lost.
Wales continued to look dangerous, and after Hendrick lost possession in midfield, they broke down the left. Bale thought he had space, but Seamus Coleman did superbly to get back, and win the ball with a strong challenge.
The home supporters were not impressed with a couple of decisions by referee Nicola Rizzoli, but Glenn Whelan was lucky that the Italian didn't catch a view of his clear elbow on Allen just before the break.
The second-half started as the first had ended, as Ramsey was set up inside the Ireland box. He clashed with O'Shea, but the referee waived away any claims for a spot kick. Bale did it all himself in the 49th minute, as Ireland stood off thirty yards from goal. The Real Madrid winger's effort was only inches wide from the right post of Darren Randolph's goal.
Ramsey forced Randolph into another save with a shot from the edge of the box in the 54th minute. At that stage, Martin O'Neill's men were struggling to put any sort of passages of play together.
Long had a half chance in the 62nd minute, as Wales defended a corner, and the ball fell to him on the edge of the box. He didn't connect as he would have liked, and the ball rolled harmlessly wide to the left of Wayne Hennessey's goal.
Wales were then reduced to ten men in the 69th minute as Taylor flew in on Coleman. Referee Rizzoli had no hesitation showing a straight red card, and the Everton man was stretchered off in much discomfort.
McClean nearly gave Ireland the lead in the 74th minute, as he hit two volleys from the edge of the box in quick succession. The first was blocked, while the second hit a defender and went agonisingly wide to the left.
Bale then had Wales' first chance in nearly half an hour, as the game entered its final five minutes. The winger collected a poor Ireland clearance, running thirty yards, before unleashing one off his left. The effort had Randolph worried, but thankfully, it was just outside the post.
Aidan McGeady was introduced, and worked a cross in from the left deep into stoppage time. He found Long, but his headed effort was blocked and cleared. It was perhaps Ireland's best chance of the game.
The result means Ireland and Serbia remain well clear at the top, ahead of Austria's trip to Dublin in June.
Ireland: Darren Randolph, Seamus Coleman (capt) (Cyrus Christie 72), Richard Keogh, John O'Shea, Stephen Ward, James McClean, Glenn Whelan, David Meyler (Aiden McGeady 79), Jeff Hendrick, Jon Walters, Shane Long
Yellow cards: Meyler 46, McGeady 90 (+1)
Wales: Wayne Hennessy, Neil Taylor, Joe Allen, Joe Ledley (Jazz Richards 72), James Chester, Hal Robson-Kanu (Sam Vokes 46), Gareth Bale, Chris Gunter, Ben Davies, Ashley Williams, Aaron Ramsey
Red cards: Taylor 69
Yellow cards: Bale 68
After five minutes, supporters partook in a minute's applause for former Derry captain Ryan McBride, who passed away last weekend. The mark of respect followed on from a fierce challenge by fellow Derry man, James McClean, on Gareth Bale. But the opening ten minutes were quiet, as both teams attempted to put attacks together, but none were particularly fluid or probing. The one time when Bale found himself in some space, he overcooked his cross.
The visitors had their first corner in the 13th minute, which was followed quickly by another. But Ireland's defence cleared the danger on both occasions. It would lead to a Welsh siege on the Irish goal, and Joe Allen's cross to the back post was headed back across goal, before the hosts again cleared it.
Chris Coleman's side continued to push, and the best Ireland could muster was a long-range David Meyler shot which he sliced acres wide. Wales' response was immediate, and another deep ball from Bale was only just over the head of Neil Taylor. The warnings signs were there for the Boys in Green, however.
Ireland's first real attack came in the 32nd minute. Shane Long received the ball on the edge of the box, and laid it back for Jeff Hendrick. The Southampton striker went for the return ball, but Hendrick's effort had too much pace on it, and the chance was lost.
Wales continued to look dangerous, and after Hendrick lost possession in midfield, they broke down the left. Bale thought he had space, but Seamus Coleman did superbly to get back, and win the ball with a strong challenge.
The home supporters were not impressed with a couple of decisions by referee Nicola Rizzoli, but Glenn Whelan was lucky that the Italian didn't catch a view of his clear elbow on Allen just before the break.
The second-half started as the first had ended, as Ramsey was set up inside the Ireland box. He clashed with O'Shea, but the referee waived away any claims for a spot kick. Bale did it all himself in the 49th minute, as Ireland stood off thirty yards from goal. The Real Madrid winger's effort was only inches wide from the right post of Darren Randolph's goal.
Ramsey forced Randolph into another save with a shot from the edge of the box in the 54th minute. At that stage, Martin O'Neill's men were struggling to put any sort of passages of play together.
Long had a half chance in the 62nd minute, as Wales defended a corner, and the ball fell to him on the edge of the box. He didn't connect as he would have liked, and the ball rolled harmlessly wide to the left of Wayne Hennessey's goal.
Wales were then reduced to ten men in the 69th minute as Taylor flew in on Coleman. Referee Rizzoli had no hesitation showing a straight red card, and the Everton man was stretchered off in much discomfort.
McClean nearly gave Ireland the lead in the 74th minute, as he hit two volleys from the edge of the box in quick succession. The first was blocked, while the second hit a defender and went agonisingly wide to the left.
Bale then had Wales' first chance in nearly half an hour, as the game entered its final five minutes. The winger collected a poor Ireland clearance, running thirty yards, before unleashing one off his left. The effort had Randolph worried, but thankfully, it was just outside the post.
Aidan McGeady was introduced, and worked a cross in from the left deep into stoppage time. He found Long, but his headed effort was blocked and cleared. It was perhaps Ireland's best chance of the game.
The result means Ireland and Serbia remain well clear at the top, ahead of Austria's trip to Dublin in June.
Ireland: Darren Randolph, Seamus Coleman (capt) (Cyrus Christie 72), Richard Keogh, John O'Shea, Stephen Ward, James McClean, Glenn Whelan, David Meyler (Aiden McGeady 79), Jeff Hendrick, Jon Walters, Shane Long
Yellow cards: Meyler 46, McGeady 90 (+1)
Wales: Wayne Hennessy, Neil Taylor, Joe Allen, Joe Ledley (Jazz Richards 72), James Chester, Hal Robson-Kanu (Sam Vokes 46), Gareth Bale, Chris Gunter, Ben Davies, Ashley Williams, Aaron Ramsey
Red cards: Taylor 69
Yellow cards: Bale 68
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