Republic of Ireland 2 Slovakia 2
The Republic of Ireland U21s twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Slovakia in Euro 2027 qualifying at Turner’s Cross in front of 3,872 spectators.
Jamie Mullins and Jad Hakiki were on target on a night that came down to a shot from Nino Marcelli hitting the crossbar in the 88th minute and getting stopped on the goal line by Noah Jauny during a frantic finish.
Leon Ayinde was brought on in the second half, with the winger returning to Turner’s Cross four years on from helping Cork City’s U17s defeat Galway United in the Mark Farren Cup final, and his night was cut short through injury. Mark O’Mahony also came off the bench, for a brief cameo as both teams chased an equaliser.
Ireland’s James Abankwah leads out his team in Cork. Picture: INPHO/Bryan Keane
It was all about getting the win, as the prize on offer for the Boys in Green was top spot in the group ahead of a trip to Birmingham to face reigning European champions England next month.
Any talk of a big night evaporated in just the third minute as a Daniel Danihel shot was turned in by Mason Melia for an own goal.
The Boys in Green pushed up from kick-off and out of this came a long throw into the box that cleared to Mullins for a half volley that sailed into the bottom corner for a quick equaliser.
Things slowed down after that, with occasional flash points like Rocco Vatta firing wide and an in-swinging Mullins corner coming to nothing after Sean Grehan headed the ball on.
Slovakia responded by retaking the lead in the dying seconds of the first half through a Marcelli strike from distance that was turned in by Grehan.
The game restarted with Cathal McCarthy flicking the ball on by the penalty spot and this was easily stopped by Adam Hrdina.
The Boys in Green kept going, in a shape held together by Mullins’ movement in midfield. The Dubliner was the conductor in a 4-3-3 formation as he was able to create space for Melia.
This helped keep possession, and the payoff came when a long ball into the box from Adam Murphy was dropped by the Slovakia goalkeeper. This allowed Hakiki to get in, find a sliver of space, and fire in from right in front of the posts on the hour mark.
Ayinde was then brought on in a bid to keep the alive and his night was cut short through injury, with Liverpool’s Trent Kone Doherty brought on as his replacement.
The big finish was the shot off the crossbar, followed by a moment of disbelief as the crowd wondered how the ball stayed out.
IRELAND: Noah Jauny; David Okagbue, James Abankwah, Jacob Slater, Seam Grehan, Rocco Vatta, Jamie Mullins, Cathal McCarthy, Jad Hakiki, Mason Melia, Adam Murphy.
Subs: Michael Noonan for Hakiki (67); Leon Ayinde for McCarthy (67), Trent Kone Doherty for Ayinde (74), Mark O’Mahony for Vatta (90).
SLOVAKIA: Adam Hrdina; Hugo Pavek, Tobias Paliscak, Jakub Jakubko, Daniel Danihel, Tadeas Hajovsky, Samuel Gidi, Artur Gajdos, Matej Riznic, Adam Griger, Nino Marcelli.
Subs: Timotej Hranica for Pavek (69); Jan Murgas for Gajdos (69), Jakub Pira for Griger (80), Filip Mielke for Danihel (80), Adrian Fiala for Marcelli (90).
Referee: Lionel Tschudi (Switzerland)