Ireland trail by one at the break

Ireland 0, Nigeria 1 (half-time)

Ireland trail Nigeria by a Julius Agahowa 12th minute goal at half-time in their final international friendly before going to the World Cup.

Ireland’s two-year unbeaten record at Lansdowne Road is in grave danger of coming to a shock end.

McCarthy’s stunned side then forced Ike Shorumnu into two fine fingertip saves in the space of a few minutes as he first touched over the bar a close-range Robbie Keane header, before repeating the feat to an inswinging Staunton free-kick from the right.

Shorumnu, currently without a club following a dispute with Besiktas over unpaid wages, was certainly putting himself in the shop window as he produced a world class save just after the half-hour mark.

Matt Holland seized upon a loose ball 25 yards out and let fly with a scintillating right-foot shot which Shorumnu saw late, but somehow he managed to claw the ball away low to his left.

After a sustained spell of keep ball by the Nigerians, Duff was the next to test the 34-year-old in the 37th minute, whipping in a shot which on this occasion Shorumnu comfortably pushed over the bar.

The best chance of the half for the Republic fell Robbie Keane’s way just over two minutes from the break as he was left all alone in meeting a driven McAteer cross, but he directed a free eight-yard header wide of the left-hand post.