[score]
[team1]Republic of Ireland[/team1][score1]0[/score1]
[team2]Bulgaria[/team2][score2]0[/score2]
[/score]
Stephen Kenny’s reign as Republic of Ireland manager got off to a slow start, with a scoreless first half in Sophia against Bulgaria.
This is the first international outing for the boys in green in the UEFA Nations League, with Finland up next on Sunday.
Aaron Connolly squandered a good 13th-minute opening for the visitors when he fired wastefully across goal from a difficult angle after dispossessing defender Kristian Dimitrov with Adam Idah and Callum O’Dowda better placed in the middle.
Idah was handed his senior squad debut, with Shane Duffy taking on the captaincy as Seamus Coleman remains on the bench.
Another chance came for Ireland just before the break, with O’Dowda missing the target after a strong cross from Enda Stevens in 45th-minute.
Meanwhile, in the evening’s other Group H fixture, Finland and Wales have also failed to break the deadlock before the break.
Kieffer Moore headed home Daniel James’ cross after four minutes but Welsh celebrations were swiftly cut short for a push on Finland defender Leo Vaisanen.
Gareth Bale also went close twice and Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey was little more than a spectator as the game drifted towards the break with few moments of goalmouth action.