Irish stay cool under pressure

Under-19 Friendly International/Italy 0 Ireland 2: Diarmuid O'Carroll and Billy Clarke struck the goals as Ireland produced another inspiring performance on an atrociously heavy pitch at Bisceglie.

Defending superbly, with Darren Randolph producing three stunning first-half saves, Seán McCaffrey's younger, smaller and less experienced side refused to bow to Italian cynicism to score excellent second-half goals.

Frustration boiled up in the Italians the longer the game wore on and they dished out some appalling tackles and off-the-ball nastiness, much of it going unpunished.

To their credit, Ireland held their composure and nerve to again keep the Italians scoreless, just as they had done in Tuesday's 0-0 draw in Corato.

The opening goal on 53 minutes was textbook stuff. Steven Foley played the perfect ball in behind Lino Marzoratti for impressive debutant James Hand to cross first time at the end line.

O'Carroll showed great composure at the near post before drilling a shot to the net.

Six minutes later, O'Carroll turned provider, sweeping a diagonal pass to Clarke on the edge of the Italian box. The Ipswich striker calmly found the bottom right corner of the net.

Despite provocation, Ireland almost got a third goal deep in stoppage-time. Darron Gibson went on a run down the left to cross and Shane Long's diving header hit the foot of a post.

ITALY: Buono (Bari); Marzoratti (AC Milan), Masiello (Juventus), Giani (Internazionale), Costa (Reggiana); Lazzari (Cisco Lodigiani), Morosini (Atalanta), Bovo (Venezia), De Falco (Fiorentina); Perna (Ternana), Lupoli (Arsenal). Subs: Volpato (Juventus) for Lupoli (56 mins), Cerci (AS Roma) for Perna (70 mins), Gorani (Torino) for Masiello (75 mins).

IRELAND: Randolph (Charlton Athletic); Elebert (Preston North End), R Keogh (Stoke City), O'Dea (Celtic); Dicker (UCD), Collins (Huddersfield), Morris (Leeds United), Hand (Huddersfield Town); Hayes (Reading), O'Carroll (Celtic), Clarke (Ipswich Town). Subs: Quigley (UCD) for Randolph, Foley (Aston Villa) for Morris, Binnion (Sheffield United) for Dicker, Gibson (Manchester United) for Collins (all at half-time), Kelly (unattached) for Hand (58 mins), Long (Cork City ) for Hayes (70 mins.).

Referee: Antonio Iannone (Napoli).