Campaign ends with a whimper

Rep of Ireland 0 Montenegro 0:The Republic of Ireland have ended their World Cup qualifying campaign unbeaten but with far less fanfare than would have been expected for such an achievement, thanks to an uninspiring scoreless draw against Group Eight's second from bottom side Montenegro at Croke Park.

Giovanni Trapattoni will be pleased his troops navigated this hurdle without picking up any bookings and that his team consisting of some bit-part players dominated large portions of the game against technically proficient, if extremely unadventurous, opposition.

Damien Duff also came through 90 minutes unscathed, despite the attentions of Montenegrin enforcer Milorad Pekovic, though Trapattoni will be concerned by the fact Martin Rowlands was forced off with a knee injury in the first half.

He is unlikely, however, to dwell on the 'what might have beens' and will instead plan for a play-off against one of France, Russia, Portugal or Greece.

The fact there was little at stake for either side was obvious from the outset. Denied the services of their frontline attackers Mirko Vucinic and Stevan Jovetic, Montenegro began with Andrija Delibasic up front and five in midfield.

The extra man in midfield didn't count for much early on as the home side controlled over 70 per cent of the possession in the opening 15 minutes, with Liam Miller seeking out the ball and at one stage Damien Duff on the right with a pinpoint pass inside Milan Jovanovic.

The Fulham winger was unable to do more than win a corner, while he failed to manage even that after Stephen Hunt's quick thinking and subsequent pass through the legs of Jovanovic sent him bearing down on Vukasin Poleksic's goal. His tame effort into the side netting was not appreciated by either Robbie Keane or Noel Hunt.

That partnership gelled more as the half went on and nearly bore fruit three minutes before the break when Hunt, who had done well in the air throughout the half, knocked down for Keane who shot over on the turn.

It was the third of three quickfire chances, the first of which saw Richard Dunne crash his header off the underside of the crossbar before Duff's volley from just inside the area was charged down.

At the other end Dunne was uncharacteristically shaky early on, especially when passing straight to the visitor's captain Branko Boskovic and then when allowing Delibasic to nick the ball from under his nose, only for the danger to be snuffed out by Seán St Ledger.

For Shay Given, whose every touch was greeted with cheers from the crowd in honour of the Donegalman winning his 100th cap, there was little to do, other than field a well-struck but routine shot from Nikola Drincic in the 29th minute. Curiously, Given's fellow centurion Kevin Kilbane was not afforded the same courtesy by the crowd.

Given was rooted to the ground a minute later, however, when an unmarked Boskovic directed his header narrowly past the top corner.

Rowland's first competitive start ended prematurely soon afterwards, when he appeared to twist his knee following a moment of confusion involving full-back Paul McShane. It meant John O'Shea was drafted into midfield alongside former clubmate Miller.

The second half began much like the first, with the homeside controlling possession but not necessarily doing much with it.

Montenegro looked largely disinterested but registered the half's first dangerous moment when Drincic fired past Given's right-hand post. Mitar Novakovic then failed to keep an awkward shot down after a corner broke at his feet.

By that stage, the home crowd had grown impatient and their groans had been answered by a rare moment of cohesion inspired by Miller, whose ball wide to Noel Hunt, was gathered and recycled on to Keane. The striker's low shot on the turn was destined for the bottom corner but was pushed away by Poleksic.

It was Hunt's final contribution before he was replaced by Leon Best in the 68th minute.

Montenegro were denied a clear cut penalty a minute previously after McShane scrambled to block down Simon Vukcevic's and succeeded in doing so with his right arm. The visitors were beginning to find their rhythm and Dunne was again guilty of some sloppy play when gifting the ball to Dejan Damjanovic 35 yards out, but the substitute's attempted lob fell well short.

Again, Ireland needed the crowd to call them on and Best looked to get on the end of two crosses from the left, first from Kilbane and then from Duff, who had by now switched flanks with Stephen Hunt.

Hunt's tenacity then forced a free-kick on the right but a rework of Liam Lawrence's and Glenn Whelan's successful set-piece against Italy failed to work as Miller's effort was well below the standard set by the suspended Stoke midfielder.

The Corkman was, however, involved in the best move of the game that saw him chip the ball neatly behind the Montenegrin defence for Duff to cross low, but his pass was agonisingly behind the onrushing striker.

It was to be Ireland's last real chance to finish with a win and 20 points from 10 games but the unbeaten record remains and the play-offs beckon.

Rep of Ireland: Given, St. Ledger, McShane, Dunne, Kilbane, Stephen Hunt (Keogh 88), Rowlands (O'Shea 38), Miller, Duff, Noel Hunt (Best 68), Keane.

Montenegro: Poleksic, Basa, Batak (Dzudovic 30), Jovanovic, Zverotic, Simon Vukcevic, Boskovic (Kascelan 81), Novakovic, Drincic, Pekovic, Delibasic (Damjanovic 69).