O’Neill rues the ones that got away

Republic of Ireland 1 Turkey 2

For the second home game in succession, Martin O’Neill was obliged to try to accentuate the positives of a 2-1 home defeat, after Turkey came out on top in another frustrating day for Ireland at a sparsely attended Aviva Stadium.

In fact, the manager went further than he had done after the loss to Serbia in March, this time insisting he simply couldn’t fathom how his side had ended up on the wrong end of the same scoreline.

“I thought we created a lot of chances in the game and I genuinely don’t know how we lost the match,” he said. “We should have had the game out of sight by half-time. It was probably down to combination of poor finishing and some great saves.

“I was just saying in the dressing room that there are big moments in a game where you have to defend stoutly. When the big moments come, you have to be stronger and we’ve conceded two goals tonight when, I think, there should have been less danger.

“That said, going forward I felt we were excellent and somebody is going to make themselves a fortune by being able to put the ball in the net. If we improve defensively and someone can find the back of the net for us regularly, we’ll give ourselves a chance.”

Summing up, he said that he was “genuinely delighted” with aspects of Ireland’s display but, he was quick to add: “That’s two games and I didn’t want to be coming in with the same message. We’ll gain more confidence from winning the match. ”

Apart from Rob Elliot making his debut in goal, there was a familiar enough look to O’Neill’s starting eleven, even if the absence of James McCarthy meant Stoke City’s Marc Wilson was pushed forward into a central midfield slot alongside his team-mate Glenn Whelan.

In typical style, Turkey were fast and fluent going forward, and Elliot didn’t have to wait long for his first feel of the ball at this level, getting down smartly to save Mevlut Erdinc’s drive after just 25 seconds. Moments later, the first sign of end of season rustiness was evident in an ‘after you Claude’ moment between Damien Delaney and Glenn Whelan, as defensive indecision gave the Turks another early sight of goal.

A stirring Irish response saw Shane Long first denied what O’Neill later described as a “blatant” penalty by French referee Ruddy Buquet, the striker next thwarted at point-blank range by ’keeper Onur Recep Kivraka – the kind of chance, you feel, Robbie Keane would have gobbled up — and, as the visitors almost buckled under a spell of sustained pressure, John O’ Shea had an effort cleared off the line.

Yet it was Turkey who took the lead in the 17th minute, and in a manner that was as simple as it was effective, Gonul afforded time and space to deliver a superb ball from the right, with Ahnet Ilhan Ozek getting across Damien Delaney to direct a bullet header inside the post.

Alternating between wings and roaming through the middle too, Aiden McGeady was Ireland’s brightest spark as the home side looked for an equaliser, one stepover and low cross from the left setting up James McClean for a near post volley which Kivrak did well to bat away. Wes Hoolahan too was doing his best to get the creative juices flowing but, in truth, it was desperately hard for the crowd in the half-empty stadium – official attendance 25,191 — to get worked up about the subdued fare on the pitch as the game drifted fairly aimlessly towards the half-time break.

Roy Keane had warned during the week that it was important the players didn’t “switch off” in this end of season period but the problem of getting them to switch on seemed rather more germane yesterday. In a moment characteristic of the overall Irish display, Wes Hoolahan found McGeady with a booming crossfield ball just past the hour mark but even as the crowd willed the Everton man to let go a shot, he hesitated a second too long and was quickly crowded out by red shirts.

The Irish badly needed a shot in the arm and O’Neill looked to supply it with a triple substitution in the 65th minute which saw Jon Walters, Daryl Murphy and David Meyler all enter the fray.

But it was Turkey who got the crucial lift, doubling their advantage in the 75th minute when two of their own subs combined for Camdal to take a reverse pass from Ozan Tufan in his stride and, with time and space to spare, blast past Elliot.

Belatedly, the Irish were shocked into action, the possibility of a hitherto unlikely grandstand finish set up just minutes later when Hoolahan released Jon Walters with a long ball and the Stoke man did brilliantly to cut inside his marker and find the far top corner with a powerful shot.

And Ireland almost levelled the game with five minutes left, but Daryl Murphy could only head McClean’s cross directly at the keeper as Turkey held out for the win and Ireland’s manager was left to rue the ones that got away.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Elliot, Coleman, O’Shea, Delaney (Meyler 65), Ward, Whelan (Quinn 82), Wilson, McGeady (Walters 66), Hoolahan, McClean, Long (Murphy 66).

TURKEY: Kivrak, Gonul, Toprak, Balta, Erkin, Ozek (Camdal 70), Calhanoglu (Adin 63), Inan (Ozyakup 21), Nuri Sahin (Dogan 84), Kisa (Tufan 46), Erdinc (Pektemek 81).

Referee: Ruddy Buquet (France).

How Ireland rated

Rob Elliot

Not an ideal debut performance for the Newcastle goalkeeper. Will be disappointed with his positioning for the opening goal when beaten at his near post. 4

Seamus Coleman

Didn’t make as many driving runs forward as we have come to expect, but, while somewhat subdued, did little wrong. 6

John O’Shea

It’s been a long season for O’Shea with Sunderland’s great escape and looked in need of a rest. 6

Damien Delaney

Having had such a fine season with Crystal Palace, deserved a starting role but afforded Ozek far too much space for the opening goal. 5

Stephen Ward

Was caught out badly for Ozek’s goal. While Delaney should have been tasked with marking the Turkish player, Ward was caught in no-man’s land, with the cross coming in from the flank he was supposed to be defending. 5

Marc Wilson

Questions remain over which position is his strongest, but he was only tried in midfield due to the absence of James McCarthy. More suited to centre-half. 6

Glenn Whelan

This was a typical Whelan performance. He does a lot of the donkey work which goes unnoticed and while unspectacular, his job is one that deserves a little more credit. 6

Aiden McGeady

Created more than most and fizzed a couple of threatening crosses in during the first half, but still prone to spells of anonymity. 7

Wes Hoolahan

The most impressive performer in a green shirt and one of few to create moments of excitement. Deservedly voted man of the match and provided the key pass for Walters’ goal. 8

James McClean

Had one good chance nearing the half hour point but headed McGeady’s cross wide. Like McGeady, drifted in and out of the game. 6

Shane Long

Worked hard up front on his own and was unlucky not to score in the first half. Was given very little good ball to work with. 6

Subs —David Meyler

Livened the play up a bit when introduced for fellow Corkman Delaney. Deserves a starting role, if fit, against Italy on Saturday. 6

Jonathan Walters

An impressive cameo. Produced a fantastic finish for the goal and drove hard at the Turkish defence during his 25 minutes.

Daryl Murphy

Had one chance of note when McGeady found him with a good cross but headed straight at Kivrak. 5

Stephen Quinn

Not on long enough to be rated.