Half-Time Report: Republic of Ireland ahead against Serbia

The Republic of Ireland are 1-0 up against Serbia at half time in their friendly international at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

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The hosts put the ball in the net as early as the second minute when Aiden McGeady volleyed home Glenn Whelan's left-wing cross, but it was chalked off because Wesley Hoolahan appeared to have got a touch on the ball when he was in an offside position.

However, six minutes later Shane Long made it 1-0 to Ireland by intercepting a Branislav Ivanovic back-pass and firing in with ease.

Serbia could have equalised minutes later had David Forde not been able to keep out Milan Bisevac's header from an Aleksandar Kolarov corner.

The visitors had another good opportunity to restore parity through Lazar Markovic, before James McClean cleared Ivanovic's header off the line.

Long could have punished Serbia for failing to take their chances when he found himself in a good position on the half-hour mark, but his shot was comfortably saved by Vladimir Stojkovic.