Belarus have inflicted a surprise 2-1 defeat on the Republic of Ireland who end their warm-up schedule for Euro 2016 on a negative note.
A stunning strike from Mikhail Hardzeichuk gave Belarus the lead after 20 minutes before the advantage was doubled shortly after the hour mark through Maksim Valadzko.
Ireland pulled one back thanks to Stephen Ward but the home side were unable to find the equaliser that would have at least extended their recent unbeaten streak ahead of their tournament opener against Sweden on June 13.
Read below to see how the action unfolded at Turners Cross in Cork.
Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the international friendly between Republic of Ireland and Belarus.
Earlier today, Roy Hodgson and Chris Coleman - the managers of England and Wales respectively - announced their 23-man squad for Euro 2016, which begins next Friday. However, that has not been the case with Martin O'Neill, who continues to assess his options ahead of the 11pm deadline this evening. There are pros and cons for leaving a decision so late but that's the approach that he has taken and a process that will finally come to a conclusion in a few hours time.
In the event that you had missed you had made the cut for England, Wales and some of the other major nations, you can find out by clicking the respectively team name below...
Anyway, back to this game! Let's take a look at the team news that is emerging from Turners Cross.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND XI: Given, Christie, Keogh, Clark, Ward, McGeady, Gibson, Meyler, McClean, Hendrick, Murphy
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SUBSTITUTES: Forde, Westwood, Coleman, O'Shea, Duffy, Brady, O'Dowda, Whelan, Hoolahan, Quinn, O'Kane, Long, Walters, McGoldrick
BELARUS XI: Chernik, Martynovich, Paliakov, Korzun, Stasevich, Hleb, Hardzeichuk, Kisliak, Valadzko, Sivakov, Yanush
BELARUS SUBSTITUTES: Klimovich, Shytav, Palitsevich, Niakhaichyk, Krivets, Harbunov
As expected, O'Neill has made changes to the side that began the game against the Netherlands on Friday. The likes of Darron Gibson and David Meyler are reported to be playing for their places, while Daryl Murphy gets the chance to try to score his first international goal on his 21st appearance for his country. The likes of James McCarthy and Robbie Keane are nursing injuries and while they are doubts ahead of the squad announcement, it would come as a surprise if neither feature in the final 23.
This is the reception that the Irish players got when they made their way out onto the Turners Cross turf for the warm-up. Sounds and looks like the locals are making the most of international football being played in Cork for over 30 years.
Great reception as the team come out to warm up! 👏🏻 #COYBIG https://t.co/5Y3iI5XpVi — FAIreland (@FAIreland) May 31, 2016
You may have noticed that Harry Arter is not present in either the starting lineup or on the bench. That's because the Bournemouth midfielder has left the squad to seek another opinion on his thigh injury but it looks like he is out of contention for a place in the 23-man squad that will leave for France over the coming days.
Actually, it has now been confirmed that Arter will indeed miss the Euros. That's a significant blow to both Ireland and the player, who had enjoyed a fine campaign for Bournemouth during their debut season in the Premier League. You can more on the story by clicking here.
His absence could now let in either Gibson or Meyler, who both start tonight. Gibson has made 12 more appearances for his country than Meyler, but Meyler will point that he has spent much more time on the pitch than the Everton player. Gibson featured just 11 times for the Toffees, whereas Meyler played 35 times in the Championship for Hull City could offer more versatility than the former Manchester United man.
It's been just four days since Ireland took part in their last friendly encounter, which came against the Netherlands at the Aviva Stadium. Securing a 1-1 draw against Oranje would usually be considered a solid result but Danny Blind's men - who haven't qualified for Euro 2016 - netted five minutes from time with their first shot on target. Martin O'Neill would have probably taken the positives from another game without defeat but you feel as though they could do with a win to put them in a positive frame of mind ahead of their clash with Sweden on June 13.
On the same evening. Belarus were facing Northern Ireland, where they crumbled to a 3-0 defeat. It made it 11 games without defeat for the Euro 2016 participants but they don't usually see off teams in such convincing fashion and it remains to be seen what Belarus' mindset is like when they kick off against Eire in just under 15 minutes.
We usually bring you all the head-to-head stats between the two teams but we can't on this occasion because this is the first time that the nations have come up against each other. However, there are 44 places separating them in the FIFA world rankings so Ireland have to be considered clear favourites to prevail.
PREDICTION! With players wary of picking up injuries ahead of Euro 2016, we cannot expect this game to be played at a ferocious pace but we should expect Ireland to dominate this game. Plenty of possession should lead to a goal or two and we feel they will run out 2-0 winners.
With just five minutes to go until kickoff, let me point you in the direction of our dedicated Euro 2016 section. It's worth a read over the next few minutes and at full time!
The two teams are out at Turners Cross. The sun is out and it's a wonderful atmosphere. What more could you want for a friendly at the end of May?
Ireland get us underway!
Not much to report so far aside from a lot of possession for the home side. They seem content to spray it from side to side for now. There's a liveliness in their play, however, which is encouraging.
Some excellent hold-up play from Uprhy enables McClean to take up possession and surge into the box but he is well dealt with by the Belarus defence. Moments later, a teasing cross from Ward just evaded its intended target at the back post. Good start from the boys in green.
There's not a whole lot coming back from Belarus. They've had one pot-shot from 30 yards and a spell on the ball in the middle of the pitch but apart from that, it has been all Ireland.
McGeady is seeing plenty of the ball during the opening stages. He hasn't played much football since the turn of the year and he should only benefit from time on the pitch tonight.
Much better from Belarus who begin a neat move through the middle of the pitch before a cross towards the back post is headed behind by Ward. The set piece comes to nothing but the Belarus setup will be pleased to see more ambition from their team.
GOAL! Republic of Ireland 0-1 Belarus (Hardzeichuk)
What a goal! Ireland had been growing in confidence and almost got in through Murphy but when the ball went up the other end of the pitch, the ball was played to Hardzeichuk on the left side of the pitch and after taking a touch, he curled an unstoppable effort into the far corner from 25 yards. Given was left flapping at fresh air.
That goal has stunned Ireland but they have responded with Christie weaving his way towards the penalty area and earning a free kick from 25 yards from goal. It's McClean who takes it but his effort is straight into the wall.
SHOT! After the ball struck the wall, Meyler played a one-two off the referee (literally) before firing an effort on goal but the goalkeeper was equal to it and punched the ball clear.
It's been said that scouts from all three of Ireland's opponents at the Euros - Sweden, Italy and Belgium - are in attendance this evening. Ireland are playing well in parts but those scouts won't be returning with warnings from their respective sides based on this performance.
Belarus gave the ball away in their own final third and for a moment, it appeared that Murphy would get a shot away but again, he failed to take advantage. That's not the first time that has happened this evening.
Christie has been one of Ireland's better players this evening and he again gets into a forward position to earn his team a set piece. The problem is that each of these set pieces are either being scuffed or over-hit. The noise coming from the Irish support has subsided.
SHOT! While Christie is having joy in attacking areas, he is being left exposed at the back because of lack of help from McGeady. It almost results in Belarus going two ahead after Valadzko cut inside onto his right foot but his shot towards the near post is superbly turned away by Given.
Here's the goal that gave Belarus the lead. Not bad, huh?
The goal that has Belarus 1-0 up here in Turners Cross.. (0-1) #COYBIG #IRLBEL https://t.co/6GCSUXeMss — FAIreland (@FAIreland) May 31, 2016
Ireland have managed to get a couple of dangerous crosses into the penalty area over the past few minutes but no shots were registered on goal. There's certainly a lack of a clinical touch in the final third. More would have been expected of Murphy.
HALF TIME: Republic of Ireland 0-1 Belarus
The half-time whistle goes at Turners Cross and Martin O'Neill will be pleased to get his players back into the changing room. They have produced some promising play in patches but Belarus deservedly lead at the break and they are unfortunate not to be more in front. I'd expect changes from Ireland at the break.
We are back underway at Turners Cross.
Ireland have started the second half with a greater intensity than they ended the first but they still look shaky at the back. Teams such as Belarus should not be getting so many openings against a team who are usually so resolute.
The home side have spent the last few moments attacking down the right but each ball or throw-in into the box has been very disappointing. Christie eventually gets a ball into the area but Clark's header is comfortably saved.
We are still awaiting a first change from Ireland. O'Neill is giving the players currently on show every chance to stake their claim for a place in the squad. So far, though, they just aren't taking it
Nothing more than persistence sees McGeady earn Ireland a corner on the right and McClean's delivery is superb. However, the goalkeeper does excellently to tip the ball over the crossbar.
SAVE! Clark has been a threat in the air all night and he meets a McGeady corner to send the ball towards the bottom corner. It's saved but the rebound falls to Hendrick, who is also denied by Chernik.
We are through the hour mark and Ireland still trail but O'Neill will be pleased with the football that they have played over the last few minutes. An equaliser seems just around the corner...
GOAL! Republic of Ireland 0-2 Belarus (Valadzko)
Maybe not. Belarus find a second goal completely against the run of play. Valadzko was released down the left flank with Christie nowhere to be seen and after cutting inside onto his right foot, his shot was deflected into the far corner. Again, there was no chance for Given. This is turning into a bad night for the Irish.
SUBSTITUTIONS! On come the cavalry Wes Hoolahan and Shane Long replace Gibson and Murphy, who could be missing out on the final squad..
SUBSTITUTION! David Forde has also been introduced in place of Given. That could also indicate that he will get the number-three goalkeeping spot ahead of Kieren Westwood.
GOAL! Republic of Ireland 1-2 Belarus (Ward)
Ireland are back in it! A long throw is only cleared to Long, who controls the ball before flicking it into the path of Ward who drives a first-time effort into the far corner from 12 yards out. Game on!
SUBSTITUTIONS! More changes for Ireland with Calum O'Dowda being handed his international debut in place of Meyler while McGeady has been taken off for Eunan O'Kane.
The alterations haven't stopped Ireland pushing for an equaliser. Long has seen a decent effort saved by Chernik while McClean has volleyed over after meeting a cross.
As we head into the final 10 minutes, Ireland's substitutes continue to make an impact. O'Kane drilled a volley over the crossbar before O'Dowda earned a set piece in a threatening area after running directly at the Belarus defence.
David McGoldrick is another player who has been brought on to make an impact and he uses his presence to earn a free kick from just over 25 yards out. He decides to take it himself, though, and only finds the wall.
Not long for Ireland now. I do't anticipate too much added-on time.
Wow - four minutes of additional time. There's still hope. McGoldrick has just seen a shot deflected wide for a corner, which eventually came to nothing.
FULL TIME: Republic of Ireland 1-2 Belarus
The full-time whistle goes at Turners Cross and Belarus have held on to record an impressive 2-1 victory over the Republic of Ireland. The home side had the better of the chances in the second half but they paid the price for a sloppy first half and they will now travel to Euro 2016 on the back of a humbling defeat.
That will be all from Sports Mole's coverage of this match but please stick around for news of Martin O'Neill's squad for the Euros, which is expected to come at some point before 11pm. Goodbye for now.
Written by
Darren Plant
Darren Plant
