Three bright sparks from a frustrating Irish night in Luxembourg

This is how they fared during Ireland's 0-0 draw in their final friendly before the World Cup qualification campaign begins in September.

MAX POWER: Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Max O'Leary makes a save from Danel Sinani of Luxembourg. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile.

Heimir Hallgrimsson shuffled his pack for the season-ending friendly, giving three less frequent campaigners a chance to impress from the start.

This is how they fared.

Max O'Leary

Bristol City goalkeeper, 28, has spent six years hovering around the squad, waiting patiently for his first appearance, and he did himself no harm whatsoever here with a clean sheet - albeit against goal-shy opponents.

It took almost half an hour for O’Leary to be called into meaningful action and his diving stop to turn Danel Sinani's shot around his left-hand post was a solid one. A selection of other straightforward stops came in the second half as Ireland incrementally improved from a limp opening 45.

Usurping Caoimhin Kelleher for the games that matter in the autumn is quite unlikely and neither Gavin Bazunu nor Mark Travers should be forgotten about but it is both a blessing and a curse that a squad so lacking in depth elsewhere has four good players to choose from between the posts.

Killian Phillips

It would be unfair to say Ireland’s improvement and increase in control after he was substituted ten minutes into the second half was solely down to the full debutant St Mirren midfielder.

But if fans have griped about a lack of midfield control for several years now, then Phillips is unlikely to prove the long-term answer. Jack Taylor, who was sprung on in a double change at the same time Phillips was removed, offered far more.

That is not to say Phillips played badly.

With his socks rolled down low in the style of a maverick, his handful of moments on the ball were quite safe. The issue was he simply did not get on it enough during a match begging for someone to offer something different.

There was one nice bit of skill to purchase some space in the centre circle about 25 minutes in but it is hard to envisage a scenario where he is chosen ahead of more familiar names in September.

Kasey McAteer

The right winger followed up his goal in Friday’s maiden start against Senegal with a quiet opening half last night but he showed more promise soon after the break when moving inside.

His one clear sight of goal, in the 48th minute, was scuffed wide but when he was in possession Ireland looked marginally more likely to produce a bit of creativity.

Unafraid to get stuck in, he reacted angrily to a naughty tackle by Sinani, who was booked, and McAteer was not short of defensive work either - with energetic tracking back halting Aiman Dardari from storming into the box with a counterattack that flirted with being dangerous.

Replaced by Matt Doherty with 15 minutes remaining, if he can continue doing well for Leicester upon their return to the Championship in August expect him to feature in some guise for the qualifiers - most probably as an impact sub.