Ireland match reaction: ‘It’s not nice to sign off with a defeat because we wanted to put on a show’

However players were happy to come through their final test without any additional injury concerns.

James McClean, Ciaran Clarke and Jeff Hendrick were three Republic of Ireland players glad of an opportunity to remind Martin O’Neill of their capabilities at a packed Turner’s Cross, writes Ger McCarthy.

“It’s not nice to sign off with a defeat because we wanted to put on a show tonight,” commented James McClean.