Robert Grieve, for the Scottish Sun, wrote that it was "uncompromising, bruising stuff" from Ireland and that "bully-boy tactics" were used from the outset.
James McCarthy rattled into Scott Brown, escaping a booking from Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli. Next Glenn Whelan clattered the Celtic skipper.
It was clearly a ploy to get in about the Scotland captain.
It was bully-boy tactics from O’Neill – two very deliberate, premeditated challenges.
The Daily Record rated Robbie Brady (who got the Man of the Match award from RTÉ) and Shaun Maloney as the joint best players on the pitch giving both eight out of ten.
The Hull City midfielder was deployed at left back and his ability to get forward and whip in dangerous crosses was evident on a number of occasions. Deliveries of inswinging corners from the right also caused our defence problems and led to Walters’goal
Andrew Smith, for Scotland on Sunday, wrote that we had the 'luck of the Irish' to thank for our goal and still having 11 players on the pitch in the first half.
Not that it should be considered that John O’Shea deflecting a going-wide effort by Maloney at the start of the second period meant there was no luck for the Irish. Martin O’Neill’s men had that in sizeable helpings with a Jon Walters opener that should have been ruled offside and kept 11 players on the park after James McCarthy elbowed Russell Martin.
He also described Ireland as "roused, but rarely adept".
The Scottish Express did not think much of referee Nicola Rizzoli.
Italian whistler Nicola Rizzoli is rated one of the best in the business by UEFA – a worrying thought after this abject display.
Again the Jonathan Walters' goal and James McCarthy's elbow on Russell Martin were the points of contention.
Let's be honest, Ireland were a rough-house team in both games. 1 point from 6. The football side prevailed. #IRLSCO #IREvSCO
— Colin Quinn (@realcolinquinn) June 13, 2015
What part of Ireland is this ref from?? #IREvSCO
— Nick Rhys (@NickRhys) June 13, 2015
They were right. Hutton IS Cafu. Neither have kicked a ball in 8 years. #IREvSCO
— Dominik Diamond (@DominikDiamond) June 13, 2015
Best third-placed team also qualify for @EURO2016. That would be very #Scotland, no? Tough to finish worse than third now. Second is on.
— John Greechan (@jonnythegreek) June 13, 2015
Scotland and Ireland's players could swap strips at half-time and I doubt anybody would notice when they went back out.
— Irvine Welsh (@IrvineWelsh) June 13, 2015
Neither team great shakes, and goal clearly offside but Ireland have lead and I doubt Scotland have the inspiration to do anything about it.
— Irvine Welsh (@IrvineWelsh) June 13, 2015
Decent point away to Ireland, been a good trip to end the season. Scotland fans were brilliant again #WeAreScotland
— James Mcarthur (@jamesmcarthur16) June 13, 2015
Point is, hard for Republic to finish ahead of Scotland now. Scotland will be disappointed if they're not, at worst, in a playoff.
— Derek Rae (@RaeComm) June 13, 2015
Decent result well done lads! Some atmosphere in Dublin. Great feeling watching Scotland team who are capable playing good football #SCOvIRE
— Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) June 13, 2015
Picture credit: Seb Daly / SPORTSFILE
