0-0 draw in Ireland-England match
The Republic of Ireland have drawn 0-0 against England in today's friendly international in Dublin.
The action got underway after both anthems were largely respected with just a few boos heard.
The home side started brightly with McGoldrick forcing a first-minute corner which was met by strike-partner Murphy, although the referee’s whistle brought an end to the early excitement.
O’Neill’s men continued to enjoy the lion’s share of the possession, although much of it inside their own half, but Gary Cahill had to make an important seventh-minute block to prevent Aiden McGeady’s cross from travelling into the penalty area after the Everton man had been picked out in space down the left.
Rooney was presented with his first sight of goal seconds later, but he delayed his shot on the edge of the area and ultimately ran into defender Marc Wilson, much to the amusement of the home supporters.
Sterling, who was repeatedly booed by a section of the Irish fans, received a less than friendly welcome to Dublin when he emerged from a rugged 10th-minute challenge by full-back Robbie Brady clutching his face, although there was no lasting damage.
Chris Smalling had to be alert to prevent McGoldrick from reaching McGeady’s 13th-minute cross, and Rooney did just enough to prevent Jeff Hendrick from reaching Brady’s swinging free-kick at the far post four minutes later.
The first half was lacklustre, with Daryl Murphy going closest to breaking the deadlock.
The Ipswich frontman stabbed a 27th-minute shot just wide and then missed the target with a free header on an afternoon when the contest, the first between the sides in Dublin for 20 years, failed to come to life before the break.
Neither goalkeeper had a genuine save to make as England in particular created little of note with winger Raheem Sterling, who was booed by the home crowd at every touch, struggling to impose himself.
England were starting to see more of the ball, but were doing little with it as Sterling struggled to get any change out of Brady and Wilson, and goalkeeper Keiren Westwood was a virtual spectator.
However, opposite number Joe Hart hurled himself anxiously across his goal with 27 minutes gone after Murphy ran on to Hendrick’s flick and stabbed a left-footed shot just wide.
The visitors were struggling to find any kind of rhythm and their afternoon was summed up four minutes later when midfielder Adam Lallana sent a right-wing corner straight into touch.
Murphy passed up a glorious opportunity to give Ireland a 36th-minute lead when he mistimed his header from another Brady free-kick and sent it harmlessly wide of the target.
The game rather meandered towards the break with England dominating possession, but still unable to make it count, and Lallana’s speculative 44th-minute effort was as close as they came to troubling Westwood.
O'Neill made a double change at the break when he replaced James McCarthy and McGoldrick with James McClean and Shane Long.
England were simply not at the races as it was the Republic who continued to look the more threatening, and they went close again after full-back Seamus Coleman was upended by Smalling six minutes after the break.
Brady’s driven free-kick was only just too strong for Long at he made a run to the near post, and the ball bounced off Hart’s chest as it reared up at him off the turf.
Sterling shot horribly wide at the other end after being presented with a passable opportunity, but the traffic was heading largely in the opposite direction and Hart was relieved to see McClean’s looping 54th-minute cross drop on to the roof of his net.
England mustered their first attempt on target four minutes later, although Rooney’s tame free-kick was claimed comfortably by Westwood.
Having already sent on Jon Walters for Murphy, O’Neill withdrew Westwood and introduced Shay Given with 29 minutes remaining, and Walters forced a solid save from Hart seconds later with a well-struck right-foot shot from distance.
Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arter was handed his senior Ireland debut when he came on for Glenn Whelan with 63 minutes gone, and he was soon joined on the pitch by Andros Townsend and Ross Barkley with Sterling and Jack Wilshere made way.
Barkley might have announced his arrival in style within two minutes, but he snatched at his shot and sent the ball high and wide.
