Frustrating night for McIlroy's men

Northern Ireland 0 Cyprus

Northern Ireland proved unable to overcome the late loss of Neil Lennon as they were held to a goalless draw by Cyprus in Belfast last night.

Lennon's absence from the Northern Ireland team after he received a death threat cast a shadow over this friendly and clearly weakened the team. In his absence, the Wimbledon defender Mark Williams was named captain. Wigan's Peter Kennedy was drafted into midfield in place of Lennon.

McIlroy's men made an encouraging start and James Quinn rattled in a 25-yard shot that Nikos Panayiotou did well to tip over. Then Colin Murdock escaped from his marker but wasted his header from Keith Gillespie's corner.

The home keeper, Maik Taylor, was tested for the first time in the 15th minute when he safely gathered a shot from Ioannis Okkas. Williams then found the net following a quickly taken free-kick by Kennedy, only for his effort to be disallowed.

With Cyprus content to rely on counter attacks, Quinn should have put the home side ahead in the 40th minute when he had plenty of time to convert Keith Gillespie's cross, but his header was tame.

McIlroy made a switch at half-time, bringing on Michael Duff of Cheltenham for the ineffective Danny Griffin.

The crowd were anxious for a goal and Gillespie appeared to be the man to turn the game in Northern Ireland's favour with his willingness to take players on.

In the 61st minute, Kennedy picked out the Sunderland youngster George McCartney. However, he chose the wrong option, shooting instead of squaring the ball into the area. Six minutes later Damien Johnson should have given the home side he chance of victory but Panayiotou denied him with a superb double save.

NORTHERN IRELAND: Taylor (Fulham); Griffin (Dundee United, Murdock (Preston), Williams (Wimbledon), McCartney (Sunderland), Kennedy (Wigan), Gillespie (Blackburn), Johnson (Birmingham), Healy (Preston), Quinn (Willem II Tilburg), Horlock (Manchester City). Substitutes: Ingham (Sunderland), Duff (Cheltenham), McCann (West Ham), Feeney (Bournemouth), Robinson (Luton).

Cyprus: Panayiotou; Konnafis, Spyrou, Dasalakis, Nikolaou, Okkarides, Theodotou, Elefteriou, Ioannios Okkas, Satsias, Yiasoumi. Substitutes: Simitras, Agathocleous, Michael, Christodoulou, Nicolaou, Kaiafas.

Referee: S Jones (Wales).