Hello, folks. Welcome along to our liveblog for the Republic of Ireland’s third and final game of a busy international window.
The Boys in Green are at Helsinki’s Olympic Stadium to resume their Uefa Nations League campaign against Finland.
Kick-off is at 5pm Irish time.
In his fifth game in charge, Stephen Kenny will be hoping to oversee his first win as senior manager against a Finland side who were 1-0 winners against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium last month.
It’s a big night for 21-year-old Dubliner Dara O’Shea, who makes his senior international debut alongside Shane Duffy in the centre of defence.
Republic of Ireland: Darren Randolph; Matt Doherty, Shane Duffy, Dara O’Shea, Enda Stevens; Jayson Molumby, Conor Hourihane; Daryl Horgan, Jeff Hendrick, Aaron Connolly; Sean Maguire.
Substitutes: Mark Travers, Caoimhín Kelleher, Kevin Long, Shane Long, Robbie Brady, Jason Knight, Josh Cullen, Ryan Manning, Adam Idah, Ronan Curtis, Cyrus Christie.
Here’s how the opposition will line up…
Finland: Lukas Hradecky; Albin Granlund, Joona Toivio, Paulus Arajuuri, Jere Uronen; Pyry Soiri, Glen Kamara, Tim Sparv, Robert Taylor; Fredrik Jensen, Teemu Pukki.
Substitutes: Jesse Joronen, Niki Mäenpää, Juhani Ojala, Rasmus Karjalainen, Rasmus Schüller, Leo Väisänen, Juha Pirinen, Nikolai Alho, Joni Kauko, Joel Pohjanpalo, Ilmari Niskanen, Jukka Raitala.
The national anthems are currently being played, with around 8,000 fans in the stadium.
The game has kicked off.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
As expected, Sean Maguire starts as the central striker with Aaron Connolly on the left and Daryl Horgan on the right.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
Finland look to catch Ireland on the break but it’s cut out by some really good tracking back by Horgan. A bright opening from Ireland otherwise.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
We have no idea what the 8,000 Finns in the the stadium are chanting, but after months of watching football being played in empty grounds it sounds absolutely magical.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
Molumby is spoken to by the referee for catching Uronen. Not much in it.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
Stevens plays Maguire in down the left but the Preston striker is flagged offside.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
Excellent link-up play by Maguire and Horgan creates a chance for Hendrick, whose shot from just inside the box is blocked by a Finland defender. Best chance so far.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
Jensen goes down under a challenge from Duffy just outside the box, but the referee waves play on.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
Good move by Finland ends with Kamara shooting from about 25 yards out. He struck it well but it was straight at Randolph.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
Horgan wins a corner for Ireland.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
Hourihane takes the corner but there’s a bit of jostling going on and Duffy is penalised. Free-kick to Finland.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
Horgan does well to tee up Hendrick to send in a cross that searches for Connolly at the back post. The Brighton man is deemed to have fouled Granlund, so Finland are awarded a free-kick to clear the danger.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
Horgan looks to catch Finland on the break. He plays the ball inside to Hendrick, but the Newcastle midfielder loses possession.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
Debutant O’Shea puts in an important block before Finland win a corner from a deflected shot by Pukki.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
Connolly clears.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
Connolly wins a free wide on the left after being absolutely pole-axed by Sparv, who somehow avoids a booking.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
Lovely delivery by Hourihane but Ireland stray offside.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
Clever play by Connolly allows him to create space to curl an effort towards goal, which is comfortably saved by Hradecky.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
Connolly gets himself into a shooting position again. This one is well off the target.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
Nice skill by Taylor for Finland brings him into a promising position in Ireland’s box. Duffy puts his laces through the ball to clear the danger.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
Possibility of an opening for Ireland as Hendrick looks to play Doherty through. Unfortunately the Tottenham man is unable to bring it under control.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
Close! Brilliant build-up play culminates with Pukki being played in on goal, but his shot goes across the face of goal. A let-off for Ireland.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
A sniff of a chance for Ireland as Connolly tees up Maguire in the box, but his touch is poor and the ball gets away from him.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
Half-time approaching and so far it’s been a continuation of what we’ve seen so far under Stephen Kenny. Keeping the ball well, some nice passages of play, but not clinical enough in the final third.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
Pukki goes close again as Finland break, but he drags his effort from just outside the box narrowly wide.
Half-time: Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
We’re now approaching six hours of football since Ireland last scored.
Only San Marino have scored fewer goals in the history of the Uefa Nations League.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
The second half is underway.
Please, Ireland… please give us a goal.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
Niskanen has replaced Soiri for Finland.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
Both sides looking a bit disjointed so far in this second half.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
First change for Ireland sees Robbie Brady replace Sean Maguire.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
Connolly moves into the centre of the attack, with Brady on the right and Horgan on the left.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
Hendrick releases Molumby on the right but his cross is gathered by the goalkeeper at the near post.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
Relief for Ireland as Finland capitalise on sloppy play by Horgan but Kamara’s shot is blocked.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
At the other end, Connolly gets a sight of goal, only for Hradecky to save his effort rather comfortably.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
Good play between Brady and Doherty, whose low cross is diverted out for a throw.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
Pukki tees up Niskanen in a dangerous position, but O’Shea makes a crucial block.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
Close for Ireland! The ball falls kindly for Stevens in the box and he flicks it against the crossbar.
Finland 0-0 Republic of Ireland
Another chance for an Ireland full-back, this time Matt Doherty, but he drags his effort wide.
GOAL! Finland 1-0 Republic of Ireland (Jensen, 66)
Finland 1-0 Republic of Ireland
So unfortunate for Ireland at a time when they were building momentum. Questions over Randolph as the ball is given away cheaply. Pukki squares for Jensen who manages to stab the ball home from close range despite the best efforts of O’Shea.
Finland 1-0 Republic of Ireland
Chance for Connolly in a promising position but his powerful strike is saved by Hradecky.
Finland 1-0 Republic of Ireland
More changes for Ireland as Ronan Curtis and Adam Idah replace Daryl Horgan and Jeff Hendrick.
Finland 1-0 Republic of Ireland
Good delivery from a free-kick from Hourihane. O’Shea is penalised for pushing.
Finland 1-0 Republic of Ireland
Appeals for a penalty as Doherty’s cross appears to strike the arm of Uronen. It’s not given, and it would have been harsh.
Finland 1-0 Republic of Ireland
Brady sends in a free-kick from the left which is too heavy and goes out of play.
Finland 1-0 Republic of Ireland
Brady finds Connolly in the box. He’s crowded out but wins a corner.
Finland 1-0 Republic of Ireland
Chance for Ireland as Brady’s corner finds Duffy, who heads over.
Finland 1-0 Republic of Ireland
A senior international debut here for Jason Knight, who has replaced Jayson Molumby.
Finland 1-0 Republic of Ireland
Close! Good Brady free-kick from the right finds Doherty and his header forces a brilliant save from Hradecky.
Finland 1-0 Republic of Ireland
Brady floats in a corner and Hradecky collects it without any bother.
Finland 1-0 Republic of Ireland
Idah knocks the ball down with his head for Connolly, whose thwarted on the edge of the box by a Finnish interception.
Finland 1-0 Republic of Ireland
Duffy picks out Connolly in the box but he’s unable to get the ball under control. Another opening goes to waste as Ireland desperately look for an equaliser.
Finland 1-0 Republic of Ireland
Close! Brady’s cross is helped on by Doherty and Curtis sees his header brilliantly saved by Hradecky.
Finland 1-0 Republic of Ireland
An Ireland corner falls to Stevens, whose mis-hit half-volley is easily dealt with by Hradecky.
Full-time: Finland 1-0 Republic of Ireland
Now that it’s all over, let this international window never be spoken of again.
Thanks for joining us, folks. Sorry we couldn’t deliver better news.
Good night.
