Irish veteran John O’Shea, playing his 115th game for his country, found Shane Long and his lay-back to Hendrick was well hit even if it ended up getting help from Ivanovic.
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Heavy rain throughout the day in Belgrade had placed the match in question but referee Victor Kassai and his fellow officials passed the pitch fit.
When pressed to clarify whether he would be interested in taking over at Hull, O’Neill appeared to be a little agitated as he insisted he will sign the contract he has agreed with the FAI to continue as Ireland boss.
Substitute Daryl Murphy’s 80th-minute header meant the Republic left the Rajko Mitic Stadium with a 2-2 draw on a night when their fortunes soared, then dipped before ultimately turning once again.
He said: “You would have taken a point before the game started”.
“We came roaring back after they had turned the tide and I thought we deserved that draw”.
Southampton winger Tadic put Serbia ahead from a penalty seven minutes later after Jonathan Walters tripped Kostic.
3′ – GOAL! Serbia 0-1 Republic of Ireland.
Wales, Georgia, and Austria have also been drawn to the qualifying Group D. In the first round played on September 5, Georgia lost to Austria (1-2), while Wales beat Moldova (4-0).
Tonight Ireland get their World Cup qualification campaign underway as they take on Serbia in Belgrade.
Darren Randolph was the Irish man of the match and at times they lived dangerously.
Hendrick said: “We showed great courage to come back in and get the second goal – Murph with his first goal as well, I’m delighted for him”.
“It was good to get something out of the game and get off the mark”.
Turning his attention back to the result against Serbia, he added: “You don’t know realise hard it is to come away from home and score twice in such difficult conditions”.
Another player who hasn’t had much gametime in the opening weeks of the English league season, and he looked sluggish at times, not least when he ran across Tadic to gift Serbia a penalty and the lead.
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They got their reward in the 62nd minute, as the ball fell to an unmarked Kostic eight yards from goal after decent work in the box from Tadic, and the Hamburg winger made no mistake in slamming the ball home. Believing we are good enough has always been an issue on the global stage and this night confirmed they have not shed that flaky mindset.
