Pat Fenlon
Speaking on RTE Radio 1 Extra

It was a great strike. It was going into the top corner, no doubt about that. Kelleher hits it out for a corner, but the corner was a really poor ball, didn't pass the first man.

It's all New Zealand now as they look to work the ball into the area.

They're being really patient and McCowatt manages to win a corner off Mark Sykes.

One for the cameras!

Singh cuts inside and lets fly from the edge of the area.

It looks like it is going into the top corner but Caoimhin Kelleher gets a big hand on it to push it around the post.

Keith Treacy
Former Republic of Ireland international on RTE Radio 1 Extra

Good pressure from Sykes, he's come in off the right hand side to put pressure on the left centre half and a good finish from Idah.

New Zealand have their first chance of the game as Chris Wood gets in the way of Sarpreet Singh's shot, and almost deflects it in.

It's wide and it's harmless, however.

Keith Treacy
Former Republic of Ireland international on RTE Radio 1 Extra

We look really dangerous on both wings, both left and right. More so than we have.

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI at Aviva Stadium

It hasn't been the most riveting half-hour we've ever seen, but the Republic have played some decent enough stuff and it's a deserved goal.

Stephen Kenny will have enjoyed seeing Mark Sykes' willingness to press the New Zealand defence, and it paid dividends.

Confident finish by Adam Idah, too. His third international goal.

Matt Doherty looks to get on the end of it but the ball comes off his hand and New Zealand can clear from the free-kick.

Cacace gives away a corner as he tries to deal with a long ball.

Mikey Johnston will play it in....

Things have calmed down a good bit now as this one shifts towards 'full international friendly' territory.

Mikey Johnston is running at the defence again and he dinks in a cross to the back post.

Knight jumps for it but his weak header is plucked out of the air. It's one-way traffic at the moment.

Image source, Getty Images

Oh, no!

Matt Doherty and Adam Idah both go for the same ball four yards out after Jason Knight played in a brilliant cross.

That would have been a certain goal if just one of them had stuck their foot out.

Two into one doesn't go.

Mikey Johnston is on one tonight. He skips past five white shirts but there's only Adam Idah in the box and the move breaks down.

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI at Aviva Stadium

You could really feel the excitement build in the crowd as the ball trundled towards James McClean there.

A goal to mark his farewell? Not yet. Good last-ditch defending by New Zealand.

Mark Sykes and Mikey Johnston have both looked bright for the Republic early on, too.

And now Boxall is involved again as he puts the corner behind. He didn't really know where it was going but the Irish come again.

Almost the fairytale finish!

Johnston finds James McClean on the left but Michael Boxall gets in and puts in a good block as he got a shot away.

Good chance!

Image source, Getty Images

Mikey Johnston jinks his way into the area and looks to get a shot away, but he takes one touch too many and his effort is well blocked by the New Zealand defence.

That's the first half chance in Dublin.

Adam Idah is getting physical in the early stages and he wins a free kick on halfway.

New Zealand winger Marko Stamenic almost nips in but he's deemed to be offside.