- Caoimhin Reilly
- Fri, Mar 24 2017
In many ways, it failed to live up to expectation, but tonight’s scoreless draw will certainly please Martin O’Neill more than the Welsh – whose qualification hopes have taken yet another blow.
Trailing Ireland by four-points in Group D heading into the Aviva Stadium affair, you fancied the visitors needed all three points to make up for their underwhelming start to the group campaign.
However, having created very little apart from rare glimpses of Gareth Bale’s magic, Ireland should feel the more disappointed having made most of the running in the second 45 minutes.
On what was a difficult week for the city of Derry, it was one of their proudest sons, James McClean, who looked the likeliest on a night dominated by conservative play and domineering defences.
Neither came close to breaking the deadlock in truth, although there was certainly more intent from the Boys in Green after the break with McClean coming closest with just over ten minutes to play, following Neil Taylor’s leg-breaking lunge on Seamus Coleman which saw the Irish captain stretchered off and the Welsh wing back dismissed.
Draws are what we have become accustomed to at the Aviva Stadium in recent years, although it may just be that this point is crucial come the return match in October when Ireland will hope to secure a place at the World Cup.
James McCarthy was given right up until kick-off to prove his fitness, with David Meyler taking the Everton man’s place,
In his absence, the Irish midfield lacked a creative spark with the conservative approaches of Meyler and Glenn Whelan allowing the Welsh to usher Shane Long out of the game for stretches – essentially nullifying the Irish attack.
In saying that, the Welsh play was limited too, with Bale their go-to-man on almost every occasion. His darts inside from the right were unnerving for the home defence, but even he was unable to produce much as the opening half petered to a goalless conclusion.
It was either going to take a moment of magic or a defensive mistake to break the deadlock and, based on the first half, it was going to be the latter as neither side tested the keepers in anger.
And while there was little goal mouth action in the early stages of the second-half, there was enough to lift the sombre tone around Lansdowne Road.
Straight away Bale had two efforts on goal as the visitors came inches away from the opener on the Real Madrid forward’s second attempt, which whistled just past the upright.
There was an injection of purpose and intensity to the Boys in Green as well, with Shane Long getting a sight of goal after Richard Keogh missed a great opportunity at the back post.
Wales looked the more threatening, although their offensive threat took a blow when Taylor received his marching orders for a ludicrous lunge on Coleman, a challenge which looked even more rotten on second viewing.
Bale could also have seen red for his stab at John O’Shea’s leg moments earlier.
Those incidents sparked Ireland and McClean to life as Martin O’Neill’s men launched their most concerted period of attack. Included, was a goalbound McClean effort which Chris Gunter deflected off target.
Wayne Hennessey, the Welsh keeper, was outstanding in dealing with the aerial bombardment of his 18-yard area with Ireland pushing.
However, there was a sense that the game was there for the taking; corner after corner, the hosts grew in belief as the Lansdowne Road end willed them forward with Whelan and McClean superb.
That was until Bale so nearly broke Irish hearts with minutes remaining with his thunderous strike going inches off target as time stood still.
There was still time for Ireland to push for a winner, with Hennessey’s mishandling seeing a rush towards the six-yard area in injury-time, however, as was the consistent narrative, the Welsh defence cleared to safety
Republic of Ireland: Darren Randolph; Seamus Coleman (Cyrus Christie 72), John O’Shea, Richard Keogh, Stephen Ward; David Meyler (Aiden McGeady 80), Glenn Whelan; Jon Walters, Jeff Hendrick, James McClean; Shane Long.
Subs not used: Keiren Westwood (gk), Colin Doyle (gk), Cyrus Christie, John Egan, Alex Pearce, Conor Hourihane, Jonny Hayes, Daryl Horgan, Callum O'Dowda, Kevin Doyle.
Booked: David Meyler (46).
Wales: Wayne Hennessey; Chris Gunter, James Chester, Ashley Williams, Ben Davies, Neil Taylor; Joe Allen, Joe Ledley (Jazz Richards 72); Gareth Bale, Hal Robson-Kanu (Sam Vokes 46), Aaron Ramsey.
Subs not used: Danny Ward (gk), Owain Fon Williams, James Collins, Joseph Walsh, Andy King, Shaun McDonald, David Edwards, Harry Wilson, Tom Bradshaw, Ben Woodburn.
Booked: Aaron Ramsey (57), Gareth Bale (68).
Red Card: Neil Taylor (69).
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli.
Attendance: 51,700 (estimate).
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: James McClean (Republic of Ireland).
