Estonia 1 - 1 Republic of Ireland
The Republic of Ireland’s under-21 side failed to turn their dominance into goals as they were held to a draw by Estonia in a UEFA Championships qualifier in Rakvere.
Don Givens’s side picked up their first point of the campaign but headed for home disappointed at hitting the home side’s woodwork three times and failing to secure all three points.
Estonia are now top of Group Two as a result of this draw. Turkey’s 4-0 defeat in Georgia leaves the Estonians clear at the top by a point.
Kaimar Saag gave Estonia the lead in the fourth minute with a low strike from 12 yards out.
Celtic striker Cillian Sheridan grabbed the equaliser with a long range effort that squeezed under keeper Stanislav Pedok.
Sheridan, currently on loan at Plymouth, headed against the crossbar from an Alan Judge cross in the 20th minute.
It was Cavan native Sheridan again who connected with another another Judge cross in the 32nd minute and he couldn’t believe his luck as his header came back off an upright.
Owen Garvan was the next Irish player denied in the 41st minute when he hit the crossbar with a free-kick.
Irish keeper Shane Redmond kept Ireland in contention when he pushed a long range effort from Saag around his left post in the 76th minute.
Brendan Moloney and Michael Spillane each had headers saved by Pedok in the dying minutes.
Estonia: Pedok; Veis, Kallaste, Jahhimovits, Morozov, Puri, Mosnikov, Luts, Alliku, Frolov, Saag. Subs: Anier for Alliku 55 mins; Sillaste for Mosnikov 68; Taar for Saag 90.
Republic of Ireland: Redmond (Burton Albion); Davies (Reading), Moloney (Notts County), Spillane (Norwich), Bermingham (Shamrock Rvrs), Gleeson (MK Dons), McCarthy (Wigan), Garvan (Ipswich), Judge (Plymouth), Sheridan (Plymouth), O’Shea (Birmingham).
Subs: Collins (Aston Villa) for McCarthy 67; Scannell (Crystal Palace) for O’Shea 73. |