Noel King's side maintained their unbeaten record at the South East venue in a measured display in a game which saw neither side really hitting top gear.

Everton midfielder Harry Charsley was a real positive for the home side with his bright attacking play and work off the ball. He had the game's first attempt on goal in the eighth minute but his snap-shot flew narrowly over.

In the 16th minute Norway threatened a goal on the break when Fredrik Aursnes fired in a shot from 20 yards that whistled narrowly wide of the Irish goal.

Ireland keeper Eric Grimes had his first save of note three minutes later after a quick counter-attack by Alexander Sørloth saw the Norwegian drill in a low strike that bounced back of Grimes but Iver Fossum volleyed well over the crossbar from the rebound.

Charsley showed his class again in the 34th minute when he produced a brilliant turn in the box and his strike drew a save from visiting keeper Per Kristian Bråtveit.

Four minutes later the Norwegian keeper made a brilliant save when he dived full length to touch a superb Sean Kavanagh strike from 30 yards around an upright.

Three minutes into the second half Conor Wilkinson had the game's best chance when the ball was helped back into the box following a corner but his powerful header was tipped over by subtitute keeper Sondre Rossbach.

In the 54th minute Norway threatened again when a left wing cross by Thomas Grøgaard was headed wide by Sørloth. In the 73th Morten Konradsen had a shot from 12 yards out blocked by an Irish defender and that was the closest either side came to breaking the deadlock.

Ireland's next game is against Italy at the same venue in March. King was pleased with the exercise.

"We wanted to have a look at a few different players and I felt it was worthwhile from that point of view," he said.

"It was good to keep a clean sheet and it was also important to stop the run of losses after defeats in our previous games against Italy and Lithuania. A number of players showed up well and will have increased their chances of featuring in the next fixture in the New Year."

IRELAND: Eric Grimes, Sean Hoare, Lee Desmond, Darragh Lenihan (C), Shane Griffin, Alan Browne, Harry Charsley, Sean Kavanagh , Conor Wilkinson, Dylan Connolly, Kevin O’Connor. Subs: Ian Lawlor for Grimes 46; Brandon Miele for Connolly 83; Noe Baba for O'Connor 83; Sean Maguire for Browne 88.

NORWAY: Per Kristian Bråtveit, Kristoffer Haraldseid, Jonas Grønner (C), Thomas Grøgaard  , Anders Trondsen, Fredrik Aursnes, Eirik Hestad, Alexander Sørloth, Petter Strand, Iver Fossum.

Ulrik Yttergård Jenssen. Subs: Sondre Rossbach for Bråtveit 46; Martin Rønning Ovenstad for Aursnes 46; Ghayas Zahid for Hestad 60; Morten Konradsen for Trondsen 60; Morten Thorsby for Sørloth 69.