Match ends, Republic of Ireland 1, Switzerland 0.
Republic of Ireland 1-0 Switzerland
By Lyle Jackson
BBC Sport
- From the section Football
Ciaran Clark's early header was enough to give the Republic of Ireland victory in their friendly with Switzerland in Dublin.
Less than two minutes had been played when the Aston Villa man converted central defensive partner Shane Duffy's flick-on from a Robbie Brady corner.
The Irish lost striker Kevin Doyle to what looked like a bad leg injury before the break.
Shane Long had a chance to make it 2-0 but saw his header strike the crossbar.
Switzerland almost grabbed a late equaliser when substitute Shani Tarashaj had a shot deflected inches wide.
Battle for Euro 2016 places
With players like Robbie Keane, Anthony Pilkington and Jonathan Walters out injured, Republic manager Martin O'Neill had the chance to give some fringe players an opportunity to shine.
Brentford midfielder Alan Judge worked hard on his international debut and Blackburn defender Duffy, in his second international, was involved in the goal and went on to give an assured performance.
Bournemouth's Eunan O'Kane and Aberdeen player Jonny Hayes came on for their international bows, getting half an hour to catch the eye.
O'Kane, a former Irish League player with Coleraine, almost grabbed a goal near the end. He pounced on a loose pass but curled his shot just wide.
Doyle injury setback for Irish
The one disappointment for the Republic was the first-half injury to striker Doyle, who was getting a rare start and an opportunity to stake a claim to be one of the 23 picked by Martin O'Neill for the Euros.
The 32-year-old, now playing Major League Soccer with Colorado Rapids and making his 62nd international appearance, went in for a block tackle and was left writhing on the ground with a leg injury.
Doyle immediately signalled to the bench that his game was over. Sadly, it could also be the end of his Republic career.
It was a sad sight as Doyle, who has been a great servant for the Irish, was taken off on a stretcher before going to hospital for an X-ray.
Man of the match - Shane Duffy (Republic of Ireland)
A composed and commanding display from the Blackburn Rovers central defender in only his second international appearance.
What they said
Republic manager Martin O'Neill: "I know it was a friendly but it is nice to get the win because it keeps the momentum going.
"I think we can be more confident on the ball.
"I know all about Ciaran Clark because I had him as a youngster at Aston Villa.
"Young Shane Duffy did well, he was commanding and solid all evening."
Goalscorer Ciaran Clark: "It was important to keep a clean sheet and to get the goal was brilliant for me.
"We had worked on corners like that. It was an easy finish.
"There is a lot of competition in the squad - everyone is fighting for their place."
Defender Shane Duffy: "I enjoyed the night. We are all trying to impress the manager am I am going to keep my head down.
"We got the goal early, defended well in the second half and ground out the win."
What's next?
The Republic have another home friendly on Tuesday night when Slovakia come to the Aviva Stadium. Manager O'Neill says there will be changes in the Irish team.
Line-ups
R. of Ireland
- 23Randolph
- 2Coleman
- 29Duffy
- 24Clark
- 19Brady
- 30Judge
- 18MeylerSubstituted forO'Kaneat 61'minutes
- 22QuinnSubstituted forMcCarthyat 61'minutes
- 7McGeadySubstituted forHayesat 61'minutes
- 9LongSubstituted forMcCleanat 84'minutes
- 13DoyleSubstituted forMurphyat 27'minutesSubstituted forHoolahanat 79'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Forde
- 3McShane
- 5Keogh
- 8McCarthy
- 11McClean
- 12Pearce
- 15Christie
- 16Elliot
- 17Ward
- 20Hoolahan
- 21Murphy
- 26O'Kane
- 27Gleeson
- 28Hayes
- 31Doherty
Switzerland
- 1Sommer
- 6LangSubstituted forWidmerat 82'minutes
- 22Schär
- 4Klose
- 13RodríguezSubstituted forMoubandjeat 78'minutes
- 11BehramiSubstituted forFernandesat 71'minutes
- 10XhakaBooked at 60mins
- 15DzemailiBooked at 40minsSubstituted forTarashajat 71'minutes
- 7Embolo
- 9SeferovicSubstituted forSteffenat 62'minutes
- 18MehmediSubstituted forKasamiat 71'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Moubandje
- 5Widmer
- 8Zuffi
- 12Hitz
- 14Steffen
- 16Fernandes
- 17Kasami
- 19Tarashaj
- 20Senderos
- 21Bürki
- Referee:
- Miroslav Zelinka
Match Stats
Home TeamR. of IrelandAway TeamSwitzerland
- Possession
- Home31%
- Away69%
- Shots
- Home7
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away2
- Corners
- Home8
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away13
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Republic of Ireland 1, Switzerland 0.
Foul by Granit Xhaka (Switzerland).
Wes Hoolahan (Republic of Ireland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Switzerland. Conceded by Jonny Hayes.
Attempt missed. Eunan O'Kane (Republic of Ireland) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Substitution
Substitution, Republic of Ireland. James McClean replaces Shane Long.
Attempt missed. Breel Embolo (Switzerland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Shani Tarashaj.
Attempt blocked. Shani Tarashaj (Switzerland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Renato Steffen.
Granit Xhaka (Switzerland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Wes Hoolahan (Republic of Ireland).
Substitution
Substitution, Switzerland. Silvan Widmer replaces Michael Lang.
Offside, Switzerland. Renato Steffen tries a through ball, but Breel Embolo is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Republic of Ireland. Wes Hoolahan replaces Daryl Murphy.
Substitution
Substitution, Switzerland. François Moubandje replaces Ricardo Rodríguez.
Foul by Fabian Schär (Switzerland).
Shane Long (Republic of Ireland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Switzerland. Conceded by Eunan O'Kane.
Pajtim Kasami (Switzerland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Eunan O'Kane (Republic of Ireland).
Substitution
Substitution, Switzerland. Gelson Fernandes replaces Valon Behrami.
Substitution
Substitution, Switzerland. Shani Tarashaj replaces Blerim Dzemaili.
Substitution
Substitution, Switzerland. Pajtim Kasami replaces Admir Mehmedi.
Corner, Republic of Ireland. Conceded by Fabian Schär.
Offside, Republic of Ireland. Darren Randolph tries a through ball, but Shane Long is caught offside.
Attempt saved. Blerim Dzemaili (Switzerland) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ricardo Rodríguez with a cross.
Corner, Switzerland. Conceded by Shane Duffy.
Blerim Dzemaili (Switzerland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Alan Judge (Republic of Ireland).
Offside, Republic of Ireland. Shane Long tries a through ball, but Alan Judge is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Switzerland. Renato Steffen replaces Haris Seferovic.
Substitution
Substitution, Republic of Ireland. James McCarthy replaces Stephen Quinn.
Substitution
Substitution, Republic of Ireland. Jonny Hayes replaces Aiden McGeady.
Substitution
Substitution, Republic of Ireland. Eunan O'Kane replaces David Meyler.
Booking
Granit Xhaka (Switzerland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Granit Xhaka (Switzerland).
Stephen Quinn (Republic of Ireland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Admir Mehmedi (Switzerland) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Granit Xhaka.
Hand ball by David Meyler (Republic of Ireland).
Foul by Breel Embolo (Switzerland).