Anyone that wasn’t in Thurles on Monday evening was likely glued to Ireland’s opening World Cup qualifier against Serbia in Belgrade.
Woeful defending allowed Jeff Hendrick put the Boys in Green ahead with just three minutes on the clock. Serbia hit back through Filip Kostic and a dubious penalty before Daryl Murphy equalised with 10 minutes remaining.
There were a number of key talking points though – at least as far as Twitter users were concerned!
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Robbie Brady’s efforts
https://twitter.com/_JamieOSullivan/status/772878415183679489
Robbie Brady superb again 👏👏
— Aiden Brady (@aidiebrady) September 5, 2016
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We’re giving the goal to Jeff Hendrick too. Just because…
Jeff Hendrick strikes early for Ireland in Serbia – View the goal https://t.co/7IF7snKxMc pic.twitter.com/36KwaDWFXY
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) September 5, 2016
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Some of the locals were not so impressed early on…
We're losing to Ireland….. Ireland
— Nidjo⚽️ (@nikstarbornstar) September 5, 2016
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The referee
Reasonably safe prediction: Ireland to be victim of some very dodgy refereeing decisions #SerIre
— Matt Cooper (@cooper_m) September 5, 2016
Absolutely sure that this ref is Gonna screw us. Will at least send one of our guys off and/or give a peno against. 😳😱 #COYBIG #Ireland
— John Peavoy (@johnpeavoy) September 5, 2016
Not one of Ireland's most entertaining games made worse by ref… #COYBIG
— Elaine Comerford (@ElaineFitzPa) September 5, 2016
Two very harsh yellow cards for Ward and Hendrick considering what Ivanovic, Long and Tadic got away with
— Mark Rodden (@MRodden) September 5, 2016
No matter how bad we're playing, we don't deserve to be behind due to a dive leading to a peno. Enough of that nonsense. #coybig
— Anto Mc Guinness (@anthonymcg) September 5, 2016
The Newcastle connections were delighted by Daryl Murphy’s first international goal…
Daryl Murphy scores for @FAIreland! The Republic of Ireland have drawn level in Belgrade. 2-2. #NUFC https://t.co/mvo72x1Adk
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) September 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/FordeEsq/status/772893930513891328
Rafa has already made Daryl Murphy a better player. #nufc
— Quinnin (@AdamQuinnin) September 5, 2016
Daryl Murphy – 22 caps for Ireland whilst with #itfc, no goals.
Moves to #nufc and, before making his club debut, scores.#rafalution— Matt Rowland (@Matt_Rolo) September 5, 2016
Daryl Murphy > Jermain Defoe. International class at its best! #NUFC #SAFC
— Danny Pascoe (@DannyPascoe11) September 5, 2016
A performance that was, overall, fairly disappointing though…
Don't know what's worse this god awful referee or Ireland's complete lack of coherence and composure. #SerIre
— Simon Blackmore (@SimonBlackmore) September 5, 2016
Ireland haven't beaten a seeded team away from home in a qualifying group since the 2-1 win over Czechoslovakia in Prague in November 1967
— Karl Reilly (@HistoryLOI) September 5, 2016
A LOI team can comfortably keep the ball against good European clubs yet lads playing in England can't string two passes together. Baffling
— Gavin McLaughlin (@gav_mclaughlin) September 5, 2016
We are so much better when we are losing !!!
— Stephen Elliott (@SleevesElliott) September 5, 2016
watching Ireland play football is as relaxing as drinking a wasp smoothie
— David O'Doherty (@phlaimeaux) September 5, 2016
This is a desperately poor Ireland performance so far
— Richie Sadlier (@RichieSadlier) September 5, 2016
The inevitable ‘supportive’ tweets…
A good point in the end for the boys @FAIreland #SerIre
— Shay Given (@No1shaygiven) September 5, 2016
Tweet of the Night… ahem
@offtheball @SecondCaptains I think with that last dive the Serbian should be in the gold medal position. 9.6 easily with no splash #COYBIG
— 😷Christopher Morley 🇮🇪 😷 (@stagmor13) September 5, 2016
Read More About: 2018 World Cup qualifier, championship news, Daryl Murphy goal, jeff hendrick, Newcastle supporters, newcastle united news, Republic of Ireland national team, Republic of Ireland news, robbie brady, Serbia, Toon fans
