UNDER-21 INTERNATIONAL:AN ABSORBING Under-21 international friendly at Turner's Cross last night ended level after a talented German outfit played a gear or two below their best against Don Givens' battling Republic of Ireland side.
The goals arrived close to each other at the halfway point of the opening period, Michael Spillane cancelling out Sandro Wagner’s opener. The Germans are in the midst of preparations for this summer’s European Championships in Sweden and used their full bench in a free-flowing contest which had more than a little bite in the centre of the park.
Ireland will, meanwhile, return to this ground for the opening tie of the next European qualifying campaign to face Turkey and they will take heart from an encouraging display that saw them more than match their opponents.
The home side had started very positively with Crystal Palace striker Sean Scannell breaking down the left but German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer made an easy save in the first minute. Five minutes later, visiting left winger Anis Ben-Hatira almost lobbed Shane Redmond at the other end.
Slightly against the run of play, the visitors took a 22nd minute lead, counter-attacking a decent Shane Lowry opportunity.
Duisburg striker Wagner broke free down the right and, having missed with his first shot, rocketed back the rebound and was fortunate to see his attempt helped home by Redmond.
The Irish response was brisk enough, the equaliser coming within four minutes. Owen Garvan swung in a corner from the right and then collected a half-hearted German clearance. He returned the ball which found the head of the unmarked centre back Spillane who headed into the top corner.
Despite that setback, the Germans would have been happier going into the break given their slight domination. But for all that, they failed to regain the lead although they did have Redmond panicking as three shots struck the post in the closing minutes of the first half, two from Ben-Hatira and the middle chance courtesy of substitute Fabian Johnson.
It fizzled out after the break for a while but Givens’ charges acquitted themselves well with Spillane in the 62nd minute and Stephen Gleeson in the 67th offering Neuer something to think about. Sheridan had an 80th-minute bicycle kick easily saved and from there, the game faded away to a stalemate.
IRELAND UNDER-21: S Redmond (Eastwood Town); B Moloney (Nottingham Forest), M Spillane (Luton Town), S Lowry (Aston Villa), M Liddle (Carlisle United); D Meyler (Sunderland), O Garvan (Ipswich Town), S Gleeson (Wolverhampton Wanderers); A Judge (capt, Plymouth Argyle), C Sheridan (Motherwell), S Scannell (Crystal Palace).
Subs: S Henderson (Bristol City) for Redmond ht; G Carey (Celtic) for Scannell, 86 mins.
GERMANY UNDER-21: M Neuer; D Schwaab, M Jaissle, J Boateng, D Aogo; P Ebert, K Prince Boateng, S Khedira (capt), A Ben-Hatira; D Halfar, S Wagner.
Subs: F Johnson for Khedira (29 mins); R Hennings for Prince Boateng, D Adlung for Jaissle, (half-time); M Heller for Halfar (80 mins); D Grote for Ben-Hatira (86 mins).
Referee: Fernando Teixeira Vitienes (Spain).
