HULL City's international quartet had to settle for a watching brief as the Republic of Ireland fought out a 1-1 draw with England at Wembley last night.
Paul McShane, David Meyler, Robbie Brady and Stephen Quinn were all unused substitutes in the uninspiring friendly, preserving former Northern Ireland star Stuart Elliott's eight-year record of being the last City man to line up against England.
Although Frank Lampard's equaliser cancelled out Shane Long's early header, Giovanni Trappatoni opted against turning to the Tigers within his ranks.
And for midfielder Quinn, called up to the Republic of Ireland's squad at the weekend, the frustrating wait for a first cap goes on.
In the first meeting of the two nations for 18 years, it was the Republic of Ireland who appeared most keen to make up for lost time.
Within 14 minutes the visitors were ahead. A failure to close down Seamus Coleman on the right flank brought a devilish cross into the England box and Shane Long climbed above the covering Glen Johnson to send a super header looping beyond Joe Hart.
If England's defending had been lamentable, though, much worse could be said of Ireland's rearguard nine minutes later. Daniel Sturridge's poor cross into the area was sliced at by the rash Sean St Ledger and Frank Lampard pounced with the composure his opponent lacked.
England probed for a second through their wide threats of Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain but an adventurous Ireland were the equal of the home side.
The best move of the match was reserved for England early in the second period. Wayne Rooney's ball out to Walcott was expertly volleyed back across goal, but Coleman's sliding clearance denied Ashley Cole inside the six-yard box.
A steady trickle of second-half substitutions did little to help the game's fluency but there was no room for any the Tigers' quartet named among a 15-man bench.
The best late chance was England's. Although Rooney's through-ball was deflected perfectly into the path of Oxlade-Chamberlain, the winger's shot was blocked by David Forde in the Ireland goal. A similar opportunity fell to Walcott from a tighter angle a minute later but Forde, the Millwall keeper, would not be beaten for a second time.
The Republic's creditable draw sets them up for a three more games in the next fortnight. This Sunday's friendly at home to Georgia will provide the Tigers' four representatives hope for international honours before the season is out.England: Joe Hart (Ben Foster 46), Glen Johnson (Phil Jones 46), Gary Cahill, Phil Jagielka, Ashley Cole (Leighton Baines 54), Michael Carrick, Frank Lampard, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (James Milner 87), Daniel Sturridge (Jermain Defoe 33), Wayne Rooney. Subs: Joleon Lescott, Jack Rodwell, Danny Welbeck, Alex McCarthyIreland: David Forde, Seamus Coleman, Sean St Ledger, John O'Shea, Stephen Kelly, James McCarthy, Glenn Whelan (Jeff Hendrick 74), Aiden McGeady (James McClean 68), Jon Walters (Conor Sammon 82), Shane Long, Robbie Keane (Simon Cox 65)
