Given and O’Shea provide assurance as Irish stretch run

Shay Given and John O’Shea proved their fitness ahead of Euro 2012 as the Republic of Ireland extended their unbeaten run to 14 games in Hungary.

Given excelled on his return from a knee injury before making a half-time exit, while O’Shea was given the full 90 minutes to prepare him for Sunday’s opening Group C fixture against Croatia in Poznan.

With Croatia boss Slaven Bilic among the crowd, Ireland once again demonstrated the resilience which helped them qualify for the finals, although they failed to take any of the chances they created to win the game.

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Defeat would have been harsh on Hungary, who controlled much of the play, and had it not been for the excellence of Given and replacement Keiren Westwood, as well as midfielder Stephen Hunt, they might have sent Giovanni Trapattoni’s men on their way to Poland today on the back of a first defeat since March last year.

But the visitors survived to eclipse their 13-game unbeaten run under Brian Kerr between 2004 and 2006 and close in on Mick McCarthy’s 16-game stretch more than a decade ago.

On a night when a clean bill of health was as important, if not more so, than the result, Ireland found themselves presented with a real test for a variety of reasons.

A spectacular thunderstorm over the Ferenc Puskas Stadium delayed the kick-off for 20 minutes and left the pitch slick, and once proceedings got under way Ireland found their hosts in little mood to give them an easy ride.

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Trapattoni wanted both Given and O’Shea to have a good workout in their first game since the end of the Premier League season, and Given’s health in particular was put to the test during the opening 45 minutes.

Dinamo Moscow midfielder Balazs Dzsudzsak was the main source of employment for the Aston Villa goalkeeper, first testing him with a skidding drive and then forcing him to make a fine save seconds later.

His third save from Dzsudzsak did not have to be as spectacular, but he was kept on his toes throughout as Hungary, who finished third behind Holland and Sweden in qualification for the Euros, dominated for lengthy periods.

Ireland had started well and went close to the opening goal when O’Shea headed Damien Duff’s cross onto the roof of the net.

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Captain Robbie Keane tested goalkeeper Adam Bogdan with a well-struck drive, but as Adam Pinter and Vladimir Koman got on top in the middle of the field, the home side began to make the running.

Given and striker Kevin Doyle did not return after the break with Westwood and Jon Walters taking their places. Westwood needed help six minutes from time when Imre Szabics’s effort looked to be heading for the bottom corner, but fellow substitute Hunt was perfectly placed to clear.