A Night of McShane takes gloss off Shay feat.

Byline: John Gardner 

Republic of Ireland 0

Montenegro 0

PAUL McSHANE wrenched the spotlight off centurion Shay Given as the Irish ended their World Cup Group Eight campaign unbeaten.

McShane blocked Simon Vukcevic's goalbound 66th-minute shot with an arm but Slovak ref Vladimir Hrinak missed the incident and the hosts survived.

However, on a night when keeper Given and full-back Kevin Kilbane made their 100th appearances for their country there was little else to justify throwing any kind of party.

In fact, this match was little more than a friendly for the hosts who had already booked their play-off place thanks to Saturday's 2-2 draw with Italy.

Republic boss Giovanni Trapattoni made six changes - handing McShane, Hibs midfielder Liam Miller and Noel Hunt another chance to impress.

Out went Celt Aiden McGeady who was walking a disciplinary tightrope.

Leaving out a clutch of big names so nearly hurt the Irish when Montenegro skipper Branko Boskovic headed wide withjustGiventobeat.So the first stage of the Republic's qualifying mission ended with a whimper as a sixth draw to go with their four wins made sure they head into next month's shootout without a defeat to their name.

But at least Given - the man former Republic defender Mark Lawrenson reckons is his country's only world-class star - negotiated the match without a booking that would have ruled him out of the first leg of the play-off.

On the downside Martin Rowlands was carried off with a bad knee injury.

CAPTION(S):

BOX TO BOSK: McShane clashes with Boskovic