Matt Keane reports
Ireland received a major setback in their quest to qualify for the UEFA Euro finals in France when they lost to a classy Italian side at the RSC on Thursday night last. Back on October 13th Noel King’s side were unlucky to lose to Italy away by one goal to nil and things looked good when the Boys in Green went in front after 16 minutes. Unfortunately that was as good as it got for the hosts and the Azzurri came out on top following the 90 minutes.
Republic of Ireland senior manager and assistant-manager, Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane were interested spectators in the RSC.
Ireland struck the front on 16 minutes through a lucky break when a brilliant delivery from the left from a Jack Byrne free kick was flicked to the back of his net by Italy defender Rolando Mandragora sending the home crowd into wild celebrations including both Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane, who sat in the main stand.
The Italians continued to pass the ball around the RSC surface with great zest and they were level on 28 minutes when Marco Benassi sent in a brilliant cross from the right that was superbly placed past Irish keeper Rogers by Gaetano Monachello.
The Republic of Ireland U21 team that faced Italy at the RSC last Thursday
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Daniel Rogers, Brian Lenihan, Jack Connors, Glen Rea, Niall Keown, Darragh Lenihan, Harry Charsley (Brandon Miele ‘72), Kevin O’Connor (Sean Hoare ‘72), Conor Wilkinson, Jack Byrne (Sean Maguire ‘84), Callum O’Dowda.
ITALY: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Andrea Conti, Antonio Barreca, Rolando Mandragora, Mattia Caldera, Alessio Romagnoli, Danilo Cataldi (Luca Mazzitelli ‘77), Marco Benassi, Valerio Rosseti, Domenico Beradi (Luca Garritano ‘65), Gaetano Monachello (Federico Ricci ‘85).