The Republic of Ireland signed off before World Cup qualifying in frustrating fashion as they were held to a goalless draw by Luxembourg.

In a game that had the feel of an end-of-season friendly, the visitors came closest to scoring in the first half as captain Nathan Collins hit the post.

Troy Parrott had a goal disallowed for offside in a scrappy second half before substitute Jack Taylor smashed a shot against the crossbar.

The Republic of Ireland will now look forward to the start of the World Cup qualifiers in September where they will face Portugal, Hungary and Armenia in Group F.

Republic of Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson made five changes from Friday night's 1-1 draw with Senegal for the trip to Luxembourg.

Max O'Leary made his debut in goal, six years after his first call-up, while Killian Phillips was handed a first start after his lively cameo in Dublin.

Jake O'Brien, Parrott and Evan Ferguson also came into the side as Hallgrimsson looked to assess his squad in their last game before the World Cup qualifiers.

The Icelandic boss had talked pre-game of the importance of a strong performance above a result, but it was a pedestrian first half from his side.

Luxembourg dominated the ball but failed to really test debutant O'Leary until he was called into action on 28 minutes.

The Bristol City stopper was forced to push Danel Sinani's strike behind after he had picked up on a loose from Ferguson and raced forward.

The Republic then went close to taking the lead against the run of play two minutes before the break.

Will Smallbone's flighted free-kick was headed into the path of Collins by Dara O'Shea, but the Irish captain's glancing header clipped the post.

The visitors looked to increase the intensity in the second half and Kasey McAteer, who scored on his full debut against Senegal, scampered forward but dragged his low shot wide of the far post.

The game fell into a familiar lull until just after the hour mark when Taylor curled his first-time effort wide from the edge of the box.

At the other end, O'Leary saved substitute Vincent Thill's shot from a tight angle with his foot.

Parrott thought he had finally broken the deadlock when he produced a composed finish on 65 minutes to lift the ball over Tiago Pereira and into the empty net, but the flag was raised for offside.

Taylor then rattled the crossbar on 87 minutes with a rasping strike from outside the box as Hallgrimsson's side were forced to settle for a draw against a side ranked 31 places below them.

Next up for the Republic are those aforementioned World Cup qualifiers, and they begin with a double-header in September at home against Hungary and away to Armenia.