Republic earn point at Montenegro

Montenegro 0 Republic of Ireland 0

The Republic of Ireland earned a hard-fought World Cup point in Montenegro.

Shay Given, who had earlier kept out Mirko Vucinic’s third-minute effort, saved again from the striker 16 minutes from time and then pulled off an even better stop to turn away Stevan Jovetic’s deflected effort four minutes later.

Robbie Keane might have have snatched all three points with a 56th-minute half-volley, which was saved by keeper Vukasin Poleksic, and Ireland were unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty for handball by defender Radoslav Batak on the stroke of half-time.

The home side signalled their intentions from the off as they pinned Ireland back deep inside their own half, and created two chances within the opening three minutes.

Steven Jovetic’s through-ball put Montenegro captain Mirko Vucinic in on Shay Given, who started to come from his line and then stopped before diving low to his left to palm away the striker’s shot.

Defender Jovanovic met the resulting corner, taken by Nikola Drincic, with a downward header, but he sent the ball just wide of Given’s right post.

The Republic finally managed to force their way into enemy territory with eight minutes gone and won a free-kick in a promising position.

Stephen Hunt curled the ball in towards Kevin Kilbane, who was once again wearing a protective face mask, but the full-back’s glancing header was blocked.

With the dangerous Jovetic and Zverotic foraging behind lone frontman Vucinic, Montenegro repeatedly stretched Trapattoni’s men, but with few genuine scares as Reid in particular worked tirelessly to protect his back four.

The Blackburn midfielder had a rare chance to go for goal after 16 minutes when he and Aiden McGeady worked a short corner, although his effort sailed high over.

Drincic drilled a long-range effort well off target as the home side continued to press, although the fact that he chose to shoot from distance illustrated his team’s growing frustration.

Ireland were growing in confidence as the home crowd voiced their displeasure at a series of decisions by Estonian referee Sten Kaldma which went against Filipovic’s men.

Their annoyance increased with 26 minutes gone when McGeady, who had switched wings with Stephen Hunt, pushed the ball past defender Savo Pavicevic and was obstructed as he set off in pursuit.

However, Hunt wasted a good opportunity when the served up the free-kick on a plate for keeper Vukasin Poleksic.

Drincic went for goal from distance once again with 14 minutes of the first half remaining after Jovetic had played Zverotic into space on the right with a delightful pass.

Kilbane, making his 50th consecutive competitive appearance for his country, managed to hold him up with Reid’s help, and when he found Drincic inside, the midfielder blasted high over.

There was another anxious moment for Given two minutes later when Drincic’s near-post corner fell nicely for Milorad Pekovic, although his shot on the turn was weak and the keeper saved comfortably.

But it took a fine block by John O’Shea to deny Jovetic a minute before the break after Kilbane’s slip allowed Zverotic to pick him out inside the box.

However, Ireland were desperately unfortunate not to be awarded an injury-time penalty when Radoslav Batak clearly handed Hunt’s cross, although not in Mr Kaldma’s opinion.

Batak had to be quick off the mark to prevent Kevin Doyle collecting Whelan's 48th-minute ball down the line, the defender getting there just in time to make a vital challenge.

Defender Jovan Tanasijevic was fortunate to escape a yellow card two minutes later for a wild tackle on Hunt, although Ireland were unable to make best use of the free-kick.

McGeady was upended by Jovanovic wide on the right with 52 minutes gone, but Hunt once again took charge of the free-kick and once again floated it straight into Poleksic’s arms.

Filipovic made his first change with just nine minutes of the second half gone when he replaced midfielder Vladimir Bozovic with Sporting Lisbon’s Simon Vukcevic.

But two minutes later Doyle went up to challenge for Steve Finnan’s long free-kick and the ball dropped for skipper Robbie Keane, who span and as he fell, unleashed a left-foot drive which Poleksic had to beat away.

But it was Given in the firing line two minutes later when Vucinic was handed a chance to repeat his feat of scoring with a free-kick on Saturday, although his curling effort was a yard over the bar.

Pekovic picked up a 62nd-minute booking for a nasty challenge from behind on Doyle, and when Montenegro failed to deal fully with the free-kick, Whelan dragged a shot wide from the edge of the box.

Given came to Ireland’s rescue with 16 minutes remaining when, after Vucinic had collected Vukcevic’s pass and turned away from Kilbane, he pulled off a fine save at his near post.

However, McGeady could have won it three minutes later when he was picked out in space on the right by Keane.

Instead, having shaped to cross, he drove the ball into the side-netting to let Montenegro off the hook.

Given was the hero once again seconds later when he managed to change direction to claw away Jovetic’s deflected shot before it crept inside the post.

Vukcevic whistled a piledriver just past the post with a minute of normal time remaining, but Ireland were not about to surrender their point.

Montenegro: Poleksic, Pavicevic, Batak, Tanasijevic, Jovanovic, Drincic, Pekovic, Zverotic, Jovetic, Vladimir Bozovic, Vucinic.

Subs: Mladen Bozovic, Pejovic, Burzanovic, Jeknic, Novakovic, Djalovic, Vukcevic.

Rep of Ireland: Given, Finnan, O’Shea, Dunne, Kilbane, McGeady, Whelan, Steven Reid, Hunt, Doyle, Keane.

Subs: Kiely, Andy Reid, Miller, McShane, Delaney, Keogh, Murphy.

Referee: Sten Kaldma (Estonia)