Showgrounds hosts first ever International

The Showgrounds played host to its first ever International match as the Republic of Ireland U21s ran out deserved 2-1 winners over the Austria U21s, Robbie Brady with both goals.

Robbie Brady

The Boys in (Partial) Green got off to the a good start when Hull's on loan winger Robbie Brady forced a save from the Austrian keeper in the opening minutes.

Brady was causing problems for the Austrian defence again as he sent a great cross into the box, but there was no one able to meet it, it was already to be an outstanding performance from the winger!

It became quiet on the goal front, although the tempo and pace of the game remained high, and Austria almost took the lead only for Ian McLoughlin done enough to tip a Stefan Schwab header wide of the post.

Aaron Doran had the next goalscoring chance of the game when he was put clean through on goal by Brady, but he was adjudged to have been offside by the linesman. A very close call.

Austria had the next opportunity as they got towards the box. The man in posession was just preparing to pull the trigger as Blackburn's Gavin Gunning made a superb block to get rid of the danger.

Doran had the final chance of the game as he turned his marker on the edge of the box only to see his effort go out off the crossbar.

Noel King made a number of changes to his Irish side, with Shane Duffy, Lanre Oyebanjo, Aaron McCarey, Enda Stevens and Joe Mason all coming on.

Brady was looking to cause further problems right after the restart when he done well to hold off a defender, before seeing his shot parried away by Heinz Lindler.

Who else but Brady was making another bursting run just two minutes later when he took the ball from his own half and went on a tremendous solo run with the ball at his feet but was denied by another great save.

Full-back Mark Connolly won a free-kick in a great position, and Shane Duffy almost broke the deadlock when he used his height to his advantage when rose highest in the box to get a head on the free, but directed it straight at the keeper.

Aidan White a chance almost immediately after Duffy's chance when he recieved the ball on the right flank and got near the box before striking on goal, forcing yet another save out of Lindler.

Dario Tadic went close for Austria approaching the 70th minute mark when he struck from the edge of the box, but Duffy was on hand to clear off the line.

Mark Connolly, perhaps harshly, saw a free kick given against for a tackle 20 yards from goal. Raphael Holzhauser stepped up to have a go on goal, and unleashed a low drive that crept under sub goalkeeper Aaron McCarey.

Just minutes later Brady started a move out on the left when he layed the ball off to White, the winger then surged into the box to get on the end of White's cross to power home a header to make it 1-1.

Sligo Rovers own Aaron Greene made his U21 debut as he replaced the impressive Aidan White on the left for the remaining 15 minutes, coming on to a great applause from the fans in attendance.

Aaron Greene

Richard Towell went agonisingly close for Ireland when he had a go from the edge of the box, but his effort trickled wide. Tadic will be wondering how he didn't make it 2-1 for Austria when he met a cross in the box but somehow missed the target from just 3 yards out.

Just as the game was heading for injury time, Robbie Brady won a penalty when he was taken down as he made his way into the box.

Brady stepped up to take the resulting penalty, and fired home confidentally, sending the keeper the wrong way to earn a well deserved win for the Republic of Ireland U21s. Next up is a competitive fixture against Hungary on September 1st, Also in The Showgrounds.

Rep. of Ireland: Ian McLoughlin (McCarey, H/T) , Mark Connolly, Gavin Gunning (Stevens, H/T), Robert Kiernan (Duffy, H/T), Niall Canavan, Richard Towell, Conor Clifford (Mason, H/T), Robert Brady, Jeff Hendrick (Oyebanjo, H/T), Aaron Doran (Kearns, 84 mins), Aidan White (Greene, 74 mins)

Austria: Heinz Lindner, Stephan Zwierschitz (Holzmann, 74 mins), Thomas Hopfer (Schopf, H/T), Raphael Holzhauser, Martin Hinteregger, Dieter Elsneg (Krofl, 64 mins), Florian Hart, Maximilian Karner (Sollbauer, 74 mins) , Christopher Drazan (Gregoritsch, 65 mins), Stefan Schwab (Tadic, H/T), Stefan Hierlander. 

Subs not used: Christian Petrovic 

Attendance: 1800

thebitoredblog Man of the Match: Robbie Brady